A 17-year-old male was arrested after fleeing a traffic stop and discarding a loaded firearm in southwest Fresno, police said Tuesday.

Southwest officers initiated the stop for speeding near Fresno Street and Collins Avenue and contacted three male occupants of the vehicle, according to Fresno police.

When the passengers were asked to exit due to suspicious behavior, one of them ran off while clutching his waistband, leading officers to believe he was armed.

The teen was taken into custody nearby after officers saw him toss a loaded gun into the bed of a truck.

Police retrieved the firearm and determined the suspect was on juvenile probation for a prior firearm offense.

He was booked into the Juvenile Justice Campus on multiple charges, including possession of a handgun and ammunition by a minor, carrying a concealed and loaded firearm, and resisting officers.

The driver was cited for speeding, and both he and the other passenger were released at the scene, police said.

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