Merced County Man Arrested for Allegedly Evading Police, Driving Recklessly with 1-Year-Old in Car
MERCED, CA — “On September 3, 2026, at approximately 9:25 a.m., Merced Police Officer Drees observed a white 2016 Dodge Ram being driven recklessly in the 600 block of W. Olive Ave. Due to the dangerous manner in which the vehicle was being operated, Officer Drees attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop.
The driver initially failed to yield to the traffic stop but ultimately pulled over in the 3100 block of R St. As additional officers arrived, the driver fled, and a vehicle pursuit ensued.
During the pursuit, the driver continued to drive dangerously, reaching excessive speeds and running several red lights while endangering other motorists and members of the public. The pursuit traveled outside the city before returning to Merced and eventually ended in a residential area near W. Yosemite Ave. and El Redondo Dr.
The driver, Juan Alcantar, 35, was taken into custody following a brief physical altercation with officers. His passenger, Justina Sosa, 32, was also taken into custody.
Officers discovered a one-year-old girl in the back seat of the pickup and located a loaded 9mm handgun concealed inside Sosa’s purse. The firearm was registered to Alcantar.
Alcantar was arrested for felony evading, child endangerment, and weapons-related charges. Sosa was arrested on weapons-related charges. Both were booked into the Merced County Jail.
The child was taken into protective custody and turned over to Child Protective Services.”
