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Pizza parlor reports man with gun
Ceres Cop Car

A Ceres man was arrested Sunday afternoon after workers at Family Pizza on Whitmore Avenue reported the patron to be sitting inside with a gun on his lap. By the time police arrived on scene in response to the 12:37 p.m. the man had left the restaurant. He was found a short time later sitting ins of a gray Dodge Charger parked in the driveway of 2304 Fifth Street.

Police conducted a high-risk apprehension to remove Justin Burgi, 28, of Ceres, who was very uncooperative. Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jose Berber said Burgi tried reaching into his waistband as he was removed from the car and officers forced him to the ground. As he was being handcuffed officers realized he was wearing a gun holster. A loaded .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun was found and seized.

Sgt. Berber said Burgi indicated that he wanted to hurt himself so was taken to Doctors Medical Center for a 72-hour mental health evaluation. He was then charged with possession of a loaded firearm in public.


Burgi may have been recently discharged from the Army, police deducted, from a Bronze star on his license plate.