Suspect with stolen gun in Atwater arrested twice in one day, police say

A suspect who was refused booking at the county jail was arrested twice in one day, according to police.

At about 12:17 a.m. Monday, Atwater Police officers responded to the 1000 block of Fairway Drive after receiving a report of a suspicious male at the front door of a residence.

According to police, officers located a man in the 1100 block of Fairway Drive matching a description of the suspicious person.

During a search of the suspect, identified as 23-year-old Leonardo Ponce Gomez of Winton, officers found a loaded 9mm pistol in the man’s pants. Police said the handgun was found to be reported stolen from a vehicle in Atwater.

Gomez was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon, felony possession of a stolen firearm, felony possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and grand theft, according to police.

Police said that due to a statewide emergency order by the California Judicial Council, which set a $0 bail schedule for most misdemeanor and some felony offenses, Gomez was refused booking at the Merced County Jail and released on a promise to appear for the charges.

According to Sgt. Dayton Snyder, Gomez was arrested by officers again later in the day, after allegedly stealing items from a vehicle.

At about 7:30 a.m., officers responded to a call regarding a vehicle burglary in the 200 block of Gardenia Drive. Police said the victim confronted the subject and provided police with a description.

At about 8 a.m. officers located a man matching the description of the subject in the 800 block of Bellevue Road who was identified as Gomez. Snyder said Gomez was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and misdemeanor possession of stolen property.

Gomez was again refused booking at the Merced County Jail, according to police.