Woman arrested on firearm charge following traffic stop in Whitpain Township

A Norristown woman is facing a felony weapons charge stemming from a traffic stop in Whitpain Township earlier this month.

According to the criminal complaint, police were patrolling along the 400 block of Norristown Road at 7 p.m. on May 15 when they were alerted to a silver Subaru that was traveling westbound on Norristown Road with a suspended registration. Police said they located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop in the area of Walton and Township Line roads, at which point they made contact with the driver, identified as 18-year-old Nixon Coca-Martinez.

The driver produced an identification card from El Salvador and told police he did not have a driver’s license, insurance or registration, the report states. Police then spoke with the passenger, identified as 23-year-old Wendy Zavala-Diaz, who also stated she did not have a driver’s license and only had a passport, according to charging documents.

Investigators said a strong odor of marijuana was detected in the vehicle, and Coca-Martinez allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana several hours prior. He then gave consent to search the vehicle, at which point police located a loaded 9mm handgun inside of Zavala-Diaz’ bag on the floor in front of the front passenger’s seat, the report states.

Zavala-Diaz was taken into custody, and during questioning through an interpreter, she allegedly stated the firearm was hers, she did not have a valid concealed carry permit, and she knew it was illegal to carry the firearm without a permit, according to police.

Court records show Zavala-Diaz was arraigned the following morning on one felony count of carrying a firearm without a license. She was then released from custody on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Her next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on May 30 at 1 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard.

Coca-Martinez additionally received citations for driving without a license, registration, and insurance.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause.