Vandalism investigation in Merced County leads to arrests, seizure of ghost gun
An investigation into vandalism at a Santa Nella trailer park resulted in the apprehension of three suspects and the seizure of an untraceable ghost gun, the Merced County Sheriff’s Office said.
A Merced County sheriff’s deputy responded to a call of vandalism on Monday at 11:10 p.m., according to a Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
When he arrived, the deputy was told the suspects had fled in a white pickup truck.
The deputy found the truck and conducted a traffic stop. While searching the vehicle, he found a .40 caliber ghost gun and a 15-round magazine, the post said.
The three occupants were identified as Luis Gerardo Amaya, 29, John Junior Vieira, 31, and Jose Torres, 22.
Amaya had a felony warrant for a probation violation, and Vieira had a misdemeanor warrant for a probation violation with nine failures to appear.
All three were arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail, the post said.
Torres was booked for possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a high-capacity magazine, possession of an undetectable firearm, participation in a criminal street gang and vandalism.
Amaya was booked for his warrant for probation violation and vandalism.
Vieira was booked for a warrant for probation violation, with multiple failures to appear and vandalism.
