Pinole company learns employee is a felon, arrested for possession of “ghost” guns

Clarence Odell Cortez of Lathrop hid them in work van; 5th arrest in 3 years all on weapons, drug charges; already bonded out of custody

By Pinole Police Department

Officers in Action. Looks like someone took the Halloween spirit a little too far! An employer’s surprise check uncovered a felon with ghost guns hiding in a work van.

An employer was doing a spot check of one of their employees at a job site in the 1400 block of Fitzgerald Drive and learned the employee was a convicted felon in possession of a rifle in the company work van. Pinole officers responded and the employee was safely detained. During a search of the company van, a ghost (unserialized) rifle and ghost pistol with matching ammunition was located in the van.

Clarence Odell Cortez of Lathrop, CA was arrested for multiple felony charges including felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.

Our officers handled it quickly and thankfully the only thing disappearing was the suspect’s freedom!

According to localcrimenews.com, Cortez was previously arrested four times in 2023 and 2024, three times by San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department and once by the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Department. Charges included possession of burglar’s tools, addict in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner, felony committed while released on bail or own recognizance, carrying a loaded firearm – previous felony conviction, possession of an assault weapon, convicted felon carrying a concealed firearm, violent felon in possession of body armor, short-barrel firearm sentencing, manufacturing, distributing, transporting, importing, selling or giving an assault weapon, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, as of 8:00 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24 he had bonded out of custody.

Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.