Firearms Detection K-9 Nina Helps Victorville Deputies Recover Loaded Glock During Traffic Stop
VICTORVILLE, Calif. (VVNG.com) — A newly deployed firearms detection K-9 helped Victorville deputies locate a loaded handgun during a traffic stop, leading to the arrest of a 21-year-old Adelanto man.
The incident occurred at about 8:29 p.m. on Friday, July 17, near El Evado Road and Palmdale Road, where deputies assigned to the Victorville City Gang Impact Team (VCGIT) conducted a proactive traffic enforcement stop on a Chrysler 300 driven by Kenneth Hicks.
During the investigation, Deputy Gerardo Palacios, a newly assigned VCGIT deputy and K-9 handler, deployed Nina, the team’s recently introduced single-purpose firearms detection canine. Nina conducted a sniff of the vehicle and alerted to the presence of a firearm, according to the written statement. Deputies searched the vehicle and recovered a loaded Glock 23 handgun equipped with a large-capacity magazine.
Hicks was arrested on suspicion of possessing a loaded concealed firearm and possessing a large-capacity magazine. He was booked into the High Desert Detention Center.
According to the written statement, deputies determined Hicks was out on bail following a May 21, 2026, arrest for allegedly possessing a handgun equipped with an illegal conversion device that rendered the firearm fully automatic.
“The successful recovery of this firearm demonstrates the immediate value of VCGIT’s newest specialized resource,” the department said in the written statement. “Nina’s alert directly led to the discovery of an illegally possessed loaded firearm, illustrating how firearms detection canines enhance deputy safety, strengthen proactive enforcement efforts, and help remove illegal weapons from the community before they can be used in violent crimes.”
The Victorville City Gang Impact Team said it remains committed to proactive policing through intelligence-driven investigations, targeted enforcement and the use of specialized resources to identify offenders, recover illegal firearms and reduce violent crime throughout the city.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact the Victorville Police Station at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling or texting “Report” to We-Tip at 844-909-3006 or online.
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