DALLAS, Texas — A 17-year-old was arrested in Deep Ellum after Dallas police officers allegedly found him carrying a stolen handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device during a late-night foot patrol.
According to the Dallas Police Department, officers assigned to the Deep Ellum Task Force were conducting a foot patrol in the 200 block of July Alley at approximately 12:35 a.m. on June 6, 2026, when they observed a juvenile smoking marijuana in public.
Officers made contact with the teen, identified as 17-year-old Nathan Guerrocastillo, and conducted a pat-down search.
During the search, officers discovered a handgun equipped with a machine gun conversion device, commonly referred to as a "switch," along with an extended magazine.
Investigators later determined the firearm had been reported stolen.
Police also searched Guerrocastillo's backpack and located additional marijuana, a THC vape pen and an alcoholic beverage.
Guerrocastillo was taken into custody without incident.
He was charged with Prohibited Weapon, a third-degree felony; Unlawful Carrying of a Weapon, a Class A misdemeanor; Possession of Marijuana Under Two Ounces, a Class B misdemeanor; and Public Intoxication, a Class C misdemeanor.
Dallas police said the arrest highlights the ongoing efforts of the Deep Ellum Task Force, which focuses on public safety in one of the city's busiest entertainment districts.
"Foot patrols are a foundational part of policing, and our Deep Ellum Task Force officers are making great arrests and providing increased security by walking a beat," said Deputy Chief Devon Palk, commander of the Central Patrol Group. "Having our officers on foot, on horseback, and in our new Polaris utility vehicle puts officers exactly where we need them during peak hours in the area."
The investigation is documented under Dallas Police case number 081278-2026.
