California man arrested with arsenal and racist manifesto, authorities say

(CNN) – A California man is in custody after police found a cache of guns, ammunition and racist writing in his vehicle saying he wanted to end black, Hispanic and Jewish populations, authorities said Thursday.

Wesley Charles Martines, 32, was taken into custody by Campbell police officers on July 9, authorities said, after a local business owner alerted police shortly after midnight that someone was loitering in the area, looking inside vehicles and a storage shed.

Responding officers found assault rifles, a pistol, bulletproof vests and ammunition, along with what was believed to be an inactive homemade bomb in Martines’ truck, according to a statement from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office .

Police seized a diary that included racist and anti-Semitic writing, along with a plan to “go to a sporting goods store, dress like a clerk and tie up everyone,” the statement said.

Wesley martines

“We definitely felt a crisis was averted,” Campbell Police Capt. Ian White told CNN, saying there may be a plan to target a local business. “There was a significant threat to the public,” he said, noting that investigators hope to learn more to understand the motive behind the arsenal.

Some of the bullets were inscribed with phrases such as “To a widow from Death,” “Police killer” and “A good start,” according to the statement from the district attorney’s office.

Martines’ interactions with police at the scene were calm and cooperative, White said.

“He tried to rationalize everything, insisting there were no bad intentions,” White said, adding that Martines did not resist in any way.

“Once again, law enforcement officers saved lives before the blood and tears flowed,” Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. “We all have a role in stopping the next mass shooting, suicide or domestic violence murder. Call the police if you know someone is armed and dangerous.”

Martines was indicted Tuesday, according to the district attorney’s statement. He is charged with possession of assault weapons, multiple silencers, drugs and the manufacture of a tube bomb, he said.

He is currently being held on a US $ 300,000 bond. CNN reached out to his attorney for comment.