Merced man arrested on gang, gun allegations

A 20-year-old alleged gang member was arrested Thursday after brandishing a firearm during some type of argument, the Merced Police Department reported.

Abel Jimenez was booked into the Merced County jail on suspicion of assault with a firearm on a person, brandishing a firearm, criminal street gang participation, all felonies, and misdemeanor allegations of resisting arrest and possession of stolen property, Sgt. Robert Solis said.

Jimenez posted bail and was released a few hours after his arrest, according to booking records.

Officers responded just before 9:30 a.m. to East 21st Street and Keeley Avenue after receiving reports of a man pulling a gun during a fight, Merced police said in a news release.

A 36-year-old woman was involved in some type of argument on the street when Jimenez walked by and began making comments, police said. “He was essentially making fun of her and laughing about the incident and she got upset,” Solis said.

Jimenez then allegedly pulled a small semi-automatic handgun and stuck it in the woman’s stomach. No shots were fired and no one was injured, police said.

“He then made some statements about not disrespecting him while he was holding the gun,” Solis said.

Jimenez ran away as officers arrived, but was captured a short time later in the 1600 block of Dawn Avenue, police said. “Jimenez did not admit to threatening anyone but did say he was involved in a verbal argument,” police said in the statement.

Police found a stolen handgun Jimenez had hidden in the waistband of his pants and seized another gun that was registered to him.

“Officers were able to recover the other gun and take it for safe keeping until further investigation is done to determine if he should be in possession of any firearm,” officers said.

This story was originally published November 28, 2014 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Merced man arrested on gang, gun allegations."