Police: Merced man arrested for attempted murder of 2-year-old daughter

A Merced father was arrested Sunday after police said he tried kill himself and his 2-year-old daughter by taking her with him into a closet and releasing propane fumes, according to the Merced Police Department.

Gerardo Ruiz, 40, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. The child was taken to a hospital for treatment and then turned over to her mother, police said in a news release.

Officers responded at 10:30 p.m. to a home in the 1200 block of Vivaz Court after the girl’s mother received text messages saying Ruiz had killed the child, police said.

Ruiz didn’t answer the door or his phone when officers arrived at the home. Police found Ruiz with his daughter in the upstairs master bedroom closet along with two open containers of propane, authorities said.

Officers took the child and turned off one of the tanks before an alarm sounded. Ruiz remained in the closet.

The child was turned over to medical personnel and released to her mother after being found in suitable condition. The mother took the girl to the hospital as a precaution, and police reported Monday the child was fine.

After the child was removed from the home, police also evacuated neighboring homes as they worked to get Ruiz to come out. Ruiz came out after midnight and was taken into custody, officers said.

The Merced Police Department Bomb Unit responded and turned off the remaining propane tank before turning both tanks over to the Merced City Fire Department.

After being treated by medical personnel, Ruiz was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder. He remained in jail Monday on $500,000 bail, booking records show.

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 3:03 PM with the headline "Police: Merced man arrested for attempted murder of 2-year-old daughter."