Traffic stop leads to felony warrant arrest, drugs found in vehicle, Merced deputies say

A man with a warrant for his arrest was found with narcotics during a traffic stop in Merced County, according to authorities.

On Thursday, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office Star Team initiated a stop on a vehicle in the area of Highway 99 and Collier Road near Livingston, according to a news release.

Deputies approached the vehicle and recognized the driver as 35-year-old Reyes Castillo. According to authorities, Castillo had an active felony warrant for his arrest.

The Sheriff’s Office said Castillo was traveling in the vehicle with his 11-year-old son who was found to be within arms reach of a sandwich box that contained multiple small plastic bags filled with cocaine and packaged for sale.

Castillo was booked into Merced County Jail on suspicion of charges including felony transportation of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance, possession for sales of a controlled substance, reckless driving and misdemeanor unlicensed driver, according to jail records. The Sheriff’s Office contacted the boy’s mother and the child released into her custody, according to the news release.