Two teenagers from Goleta were found and arrested on campus Friday night for possession of a deadly weapon.

At approximately 10:30 p.m., UC police observed two 17-year-old boys and a girl, whose age was not released, standing outside a car parked in the Devereux Loop on UCSB’s West Campus, UCPD Officer Mark Signa said. A 21-year-old male UCSB student was sitting in the back seat of the vehicle.

Because the car was parked in a dark and isolated place where parking is not allowed, the police pulled over to question the people surrounding the vehicle, Signa said.

Police conducted a search of the vehicle and found both open and closed containers of alcohol inside the car, Signa said. Police also found a box cutter in the storage area of the passenger-side front door and a folding knife and pair of brass knuckles in the driver side front door. Police then patted down one of the two teenagers and found another pair of brass knuckles in his pocket.

Police arrested the two 17-year-olds for possession of a deadly weapon. They were not, however, charged for possession of open containers of alcohol, Signa said. After being taken into custody, the suspects were questioned and booked into juvenile hall.

Signa said that when asked why they had the brass knuckles, the suspects said that they were for self-defense. There seemed to be no signs that the suspects were planning to use the brass knuckles that night, Signa said. Brass knuckles are illegal in California.

The 21-year-old UCSB student was released and the girl was transported and released to her parents, Signa said.