Police: Merced gang member arrested with stolen guns, drugs

A 37-year-old Merced gang member was jailed Saturday after police seized two stolen handguns at his home, along with methamphetamine, cocaine and a digital scale, officers reported.

Benjamin M. Chandler was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of drug possession for sales, drug possession, receiving stolen property and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He remained in custody Sunday on $330,000 bail, according to booking records.

Chandler, whom police described as a known gang member, was arrested Saturday at his home in the 1500 block of Ellen Court by the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit, officers said in a news release.

Investigators said they “developed information” that Chandler was distributing drugs and was possibly armed.

“Upon serving the search warrant, GVSU officers located one stolen .40-caliber handgun, one stolen 9mm-caliber handgun, ammunition, methamphetamine, cocaine and a digital scale,” police said in the statement.

According to Merced County Superior Court records, Chandler was convicted in 2007 of inflicting corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant.

Merced police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact GVSU at 209-385-4710 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 March 27, 2016 at 3:34 PM with the headline "Police: Merced gang member arrested with stolen guns, drugs."