Merced police arrest three auto theft suspects

Three suspects have been arrested by Merced police on auto theft accusations during two separate investigations.

The first incident was reported just after midnight Friday, according to a Merced police press release. Officers received a report of a car stolen from the downtown Merced area.

Within an hour of the call, police located the vehicle on Willowbrook Drive. Officers observed the vehicle and saw two people drive away in the car.

Police stopped the vehicle and took occupants Ignacio Reyes, 24, and Julian Ramirez, 19, into custody. Ramirez admitted to stealing the car. Reyes admitted he knew the car was stolen, according to the release.

Ramirez was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of auto theft and possession of stolen property. Reyes was booked on suspicion of possessing stolen property.

Later Friday, at 10:16 p.m., officers received another report of a car stolen in the downtown Merced area. On Saturday at 2:11 a.m., police located the vehicle being driven near Buena Vista Drive and M Street.

The driver, Edmond Mathis III, 23, was stopped and taken into custody. Mathis admitted he knew the car was stolen because it didn’t have a key and needed a screwdriver to start the ignition. Mathis was booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of possessing stolen property.

Police are asking anyone with information about the cases to call Sgt. Robert Solis at (209) 385-4703 or the department’s automated tip-line at (209) 385-4725.

This story was originally published February 7, 2015 at 7:17 AM with the headline "Merced police arrest three auto theft suspects."