Billy clubs, heroin, pepper spray. Just a few items Merced police took in arrests

Three people were arrested in two separate incidents in Merced during the weekend with weapons and drugs, according to police.

The two incidents involved arrests made by Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit on Saturday evening, according to a release.

The first arrest was made about 5:50 p.m. in the 1800 block of Demoss Court after investigators conducted a probation search of 21-year-old Gregory Banksflores, according to police. Officers found an assault rifle, ammunition, a billy club and pepper spray.

Banksflores is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning any firearms, according to police. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing those weapons, police said. He remains in custody in lieu of $240,500, according to jail records.

Later that day at about 9:59 p.m., police "developed information" that drugs were being sold from a home in the 1400 block of Louise Ave., according to a news release.

After serving a search warrant, officers found two ounces of heroin, packaging material, a digital scale, needles, a billy club, metal knuckles and cash, according to police.

Policed said they arrested 61-year-old John Castellanos and 25-year-old Sofia Carr at the home on suspicion of possessing the weapons and drugs. Castellanos is also suspected of being a gang member, police said.

He held in lieu of $200,000 bail, and she's held in lieu of $15,000 bail, according to jail records.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding these incidents to contact Gang Violence Suppression Unit Sgt. Brian Rodriguez at 209-385-4710 or GVSU@cityofmerced.org 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.