Suspected gang member arrested in Merced with gun, police say
A suspected gang member from Merced was arrested Saturday after officers found a concealed firearm, the Police Department reported.
The identification number had been tampered with on the loaded 9mm High Point handgun, according to Merced County Jail records.
Richard Sanchez, 19, was in a vehicle stopped by police just after 6:30 p.m. Saturday in the 3300 block of M Street. Officers were searching for the vehicle after receiving reports of a disturbance in the 1500 block of Portola Way a short time earlier, police said in a news release.
Officers searched the vehicle and found the loaded weapon. Police said Sanchez admitted his involvement in gang activity and was arrested.
He was booked into the jail on suspicion of criminal street gang participation, carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a loaded weapon and tampering with a firearm’s identifying marks, booking records show.
Sanchez posted bail and was released from custody a few hours after his arrest, according to jail records.
Merced police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Sgt. Brian Rodriguez at (209) 385-4710, or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the text message.
This story was originally published April 26, 2015 at 1:01 PM with the headline "Suspected gang member arrested in Merced with gun, police say."