Cell Phone Mistaken for Gun Near Drive-in Theater, Passenger Arrested on Drug Charges

A driver pointing his finger while holding a cell phone was mistaken for an armed motorist Thursday, Sacramento County Sheriff's Department officials said this week.

Rancho Cordova police responded to the area of Oates Drive and Bradshaw Road after a call came into the CHP around 6:30 p.m. about a driver allegedly brandishing a firearm, sheriff's department spokeswoman Sharon Chow said in an email.

Officers found the car and searched the driver and passenger, according to a recently released crime log. No weapon was found, but cocaine was found in the pockets of the passenger, 28-year-old Diana Ramirez, the department said.

Ramirez was arrested, but posted $20,000 bail and was released on Friday.

Rancho Cordova pursuit ends near Bradshaw

A routine traffic stop in Rancho Cordova led to a short chase and an arrest near Bradshaw Road late Wednesday, sheriff's department officials said.

Ervin Edward Ashcraft, 44, was allegedly seen driving with expired registration tags near Folsom Boulevard and La Loma Drive around 11 p.m. When Rancho Cordova police tried to pull him over, Ashcraft took off, the department said.

He led officers on a brief chase west on Highway 50 before crashing near Bradshaw Road, Chow said. Ashcraft then allegedly ran from the scene and was arrested on the Bradshaw Road and Highway 50 overcrossing.

Ashcraft, who was arraigned last week, is currently being held at the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove on one felony charge of evading a police officer. He is ineligible for bail.