Shots ring out in Atwater, some at police

ATWATER -- Shots were fired at police officers early Saturday, authorities reported Sunday.

Officers made a traffic stop in the 1300 block of East Bellevue Road and detained three people on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and burglary tools, according to a news release.

During the stop, as officers waited for a tow company to respond, a gunshot was heard just north of them, from an apartment complex on the northwest corner of Determine Drive and Bellevue Road, the release said.

After the shot, officers heard a whistling sound fly past them. They took cover and called on the radio for assistance, the release said.

All Atwater police responded, along with Merced County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol, the release said.

The California Highway Patrol blocked the street at Buhach and Bellevue roads.

When all the officers arrived, they checked the area but didn't find a gun, shell casings or anyone running from the area, the release said.

At the end of the search, an officer found a documented A-Town Locs gang member, Omar Zetina, in the 1100 block of Swaps Street. Zetina told officers he came outside shortly after hearing a single gunshot, the release said. Zetina was checked and released, according to the release.

Officers are being advised to use caution in the area.

Thursday and Friday, two bullets were fired through the front glass door of a shoe store at 1241 Broadway Avenue in Atwater.

Two slugs were recovered in the store, and a live .380-caliber round was found just outside the front door, according to a news release.

There were no injuries or witnesses and no reports overnight of shots fired, the release said.

The owner of the shop believed it may have been related to juveniles he stopped from stealing shoes several weeks ago, an incident he had not reported, the release said.

He told officers he turned off his security camera when the store closed because the recording device uses VHS tape and won't run all night.

The report was forwarded to detectives for possible follow-up, the release said.