Stolen car leads to arrest

MERCED -- An Atwater man was arrested Tuesday night after officers found him driving a stolen car in the 1100 block of East Bellevue Road, according to Lt. Sam Joseph.

Joseph said officer Jason Dasilva was on patrol when he spotted a car with an indistinguishable registration tab. After running a registration check, the officer discovered the car was reported stolen out of Anderson.

The driver, Kareem Eugene Butler, 38, was questioned and arrested without incident.

During a search of the car, police found methamphetamine and a glass pipe believed to have been used for smoking the drug, Joseph said.

Butler was booked on suspicion of driving a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and driving without a license. He is being held at the Merced County Jail on $62,360 bail.

Reporter Ramona Giwargis can be reached at (209) 385-2477 or rgiwargis@mercedsunstar.com.