Police shooting suspect was wanted in Merced County

A man accused of shooting a Merced police officer over the weekend had been wanted by law enforcement in Merced County since December, when he failed to appear in court on a suspected probation violation, the Sun-Star has confirmed.

The suspect, Jaime M. Caudillo of Los Banos, was arrested Saturday after authorities say he shot a veteran Merced police officer during a traffic stop on H Street. Caudillo was also shot during the gunfight with police. He was captured a short time later and taken to an area hospital for treatment before he was booked into the Merced County Jail, officers have said.

Caudillo was last released from state prison Oct. 18, according to information obtained from the state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

A second suspect, Steven P. Rincon of Fresno, was also captured Saturday after a nearly 10-hour manhunt in central Merced. Rincon, 24, was believed to be the driver of the red 2013 Chrysler 200 that officers stopped moments before the shooting started, police said.

Rincon was released from prison about six weeks ago, according to prison records.

A revolver, believed to be the weapon used against police, was recovered in the backyard of a home in the 100 block of West 22nd Street, a short distance from the scene of the shootout, officers said.

The officer, whose name has not been released, suffered injuries to his right hand and was shot at least once in his protective vest. He was treated at a Fresno hospital and has been released.

The Sun-Star has requested an interview with the injured officer. Detective Joe Deliman, who is the lead investigator in the case and president of the Merced Police Officers Association, spoke with the officer and said he did not wish to be interviewed.

Two other Merced police officers returned fire during the early morning battle. They were not injured. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, a standard practice in any officer-involved shooting case. Their names also have not been released.

Capt. Tom Trindad said Tuesday that police expect to send the case to the Merced County District Attorney’s Office by Wednesday and said the name of the injured officer would be released around the same time.

Caudillo, 30, failed to appear in court Dec. 16 on a suspected probation violation. Commissioner Jeanne E. Schechter issued the $100,000 arrest warrant that same day, according to Merced Superior Court records.

Caudillo’s criminal record includes domestic violence convictions. Additionally, Caudillo pleaded guilty in August 2003 to resisting arrest and negligently discharging a firearm, according to court records.

He was in and out of state prison at least four times from 2007 to 2010, according to state records. Caudillo pleaded guilty in January 2010 to a felony drug charge and was sentenced to five years in state prison.

He was released from prison Oct. 18, state prison spokesman Luis Patino said.

Scott Ball, chief of the Merced County Probation Department, confirmed that Caudillo was on probation under the terms of AB 109. Dubbed the “Public Safety Realignment Act,” AB 109 is a controversial law passed in 2011 that transferred responsibility for certain offenses from the state to the counties.

Ball said Caudillo’s county probation supervision began Oct. 27.

“He showed up (to the Probation Department) once and then just disappeared,” Ball said. “He failed to give us a good address for him. He gave us no opportunity to work with him, so a warrant was issued for his arrest.”

Rincon’s criminal history in Merced County includes a 2008 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon and gang charges, as well as a 2011 residential burglary conviction, court records show.

Prison records show Rincon was convicted of assault with a deadly weapon in Fresno County in 2011. He was in and out of state prison three times dating back to 2011.

Rincon was most recently released from state prison Jan. 14, Patino confirmed.

Caudillo and Rincon remained in custody Tuesday at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility. Caudillo was being held without bail. Rincon’s bail was listed at $1 million, according to booking records.

Police said both suspects were booked Saturday on suspicion of attempted murder of a peace officer.

This story was originally published March 3, 2015 at 6:04 PM with the headline "Police shooting suspect was wanted in Merced County."