3 Arrested For Meth and Unloaded Gun in Atwater
Arellano, 18
The Atwater Police Officers made three arrests after a simple traffic stop which revealed drugs, a rifle, and a wanted felon.
According to Lt. Sam Joseph, the officers observed a gold Ford pickup truck make an unsafe pass as they were patrolling the area on Sunday night. The officers made a traffic stop, but when they confronted the driver, Marcos Hernandez, it turned out his license in suspended. In fact, 20-year-old Hernandez was actually wanted on a misdemeanor arrest warrant.
The officers then searched the vehicle and found a soda can, which contained more than 7 grams of marijuana and .05 grams of methamphetamine.
During the search, police also found a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle.
Hernandez, 20
Joseph stated that Hernandez, who’s a known Sureno gang member, admitted the drugs belonging to him, but denied being the owner of the rifle.
Two accompanying passengers – Oscar Arellano, 18, and Luis Gonzalez, 28 – were arrested on suspicion of possessing the weapon and being involved in the participation of a criminal street gang.
Lt. Joseph reported that officers discovered evidence tying Arellano and Gonzalez to possession of the gun upon searching through their cell phones.
Gonzalez, 28
All three arrestees were booked at the Merced County Jail.
READ MORE:
Merced Sun-Star: Police: 3 Arrested After Traffic Stop in Atwater
Atwater RSS: Tip Leads to Three Arrests in Atwater
