PORT CHARLOTTE — A Charlotte County Sheriff’s deputy arrested a convicted felon from Arcadia who ran a stop sign and deputy found a loaded gun, stun gun, ammunition, brass knuckles, marijuana and $1,520 cash. Arrested at 2:18 a.m. today was Simon Nelson Bazaldua, 28, of the 1600 block of NE Sugar Babe Road, Arcadia. A deputy observed Bazaldua exit a gas station parking lot and run the stop sign. A traffic stop was made at Cochran and Lakeview boulevards. As the deputy approached Bazaldua, there was a strong odor of marijuana emitting from his white Chevrolet Suburban. A search of the vehicle found brass knuckles under the front of the center console. The deputy noticed the center cup holder was loose and was able to remove it. Hidden inside were 9mm hollow point ammunition, a fully loaded 9mm handgun, a pink stun gun, and $1,450 cash with a rubber band around it.

A further search yielded marijuana under the driver’s seat and $70 in cash secured by a rubber band in the driver’s sun visor. A check on Bazaldua found that he is a convicted felon and does not have a concealed weapons permit. He was arrested and transported to the Charlotte County Jail on multiple charges. He remains in jail on $26,000 bond.