Felon arrested and stolen gun found after vehicle pursuit, Merced police say

A convicted felon was arrested Tuesday after trying to evade Merced police officers following a traffic stop, authorities say.

According to the Merced Police Department, at about 12:22 p.m. an officer initiated a traffic stop on a driver identified as Rafael Herrera Jr., 32, in the area of San Augustine Avenue and Cassis Drive. The officer was familiar with Herrera and knew him to be on probation, according to a news release.

Police said the officer made contact with Herrera, who became uncooperative when he was asked to exit the vehicle for a probation search. Authorities said Herrera refused to exit the vehicle and lowered his right hand to his hip, out of the officer’s sight.

The officer drew his service weapon and Herrera was ordered to slowly place his hand on the steering wheel, according to police. As he refused to place his hand on the wheel, a female passenger grabbed Herrera’s hand pleading with him to show his hands. Police said that after several seconds, Herrera raised his hand to the wheel and drove away.

After pursuing Herrera on surface streets and onto the bike path, the officer lost sight of Herrera. Shorty after, Merced County Sheriff’s deputies located Herrera in Atwater and pursued him back to Merced.

Police said Herrera ran from officers on foot after the vehicle the suspect was driving ran out of fuel in the area of Stonybrook Drive and Willowbrook Drive.

Herrera was apprehended a short time later, while hiding in a dumpster. Police said a loaded, stolen firearm was later recovered in the same area where the officer had lost sight of Herrera.

Herrera was arrested and booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a loaded, stolen firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition and evading arrest.