Gang member arrested with gun, drug pipe, police say

A 33-year-old Merced gang member was arrested Tuesday after police found him carrying a loaded firearm and a methamphetamine pipe, the Merced Police Department said in a news release.

Jesus Tarin Garcia, who was described by police as a known gang member on parole, was spotted around 2 p.m. in the 100 block of West 18th Street. Officers with the Merced Police Department’s Disruptive Area Response Team searched Garcia and located a loaded .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun, Sgt. Donald King said in the statement.

“In addition, officers located a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine in his pocket,” King said.

Garcia was arrested without incident and booked at the Merced County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia, being a felon in possession of ammunition, being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm and a parole hold, police said.

Merced police are asking anyone with any information regarding this incident to contact police at (209) 384-4188, or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to the police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the keyword in the text message.

This story was originally published November 25, 2014 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Gang member arrested with gun, drug pipe, police say."