Two men were arrested Friday afternoon after Ceres Police Officer Miguel Villalobos became suspicious about them as they were in a car parked near a store in the 3800 block of Collins Road.

At 4:02 p.m. the officer approached the car to speak to the man in the car after the other occupant walked into a nearby convenience store. Villalobos spotted a handgun in the back of the vehicle. He called for backup and detained both suspects. Passenger Robert Martin, 39, of Ceres, was allegedly observed trying to get rid of a small amount of crystal methamphetamine. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of an illegal switchblade.

Driver Edward Gomez, Jr., 23, of Modesto, was charged with being a felon in possession of a handgun and possession of a dirk and dagger. The gun was loaded, said Ceres Police Department spokesman Lt. James Yandell.