March 12, 2016 - The Merced Police Department reports on Wednesday Evening, March 9, 2016, the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) developed information that gang members were involved in criminal activity at a residence located in the 1600 block of Orchard Lane.
Gang Task Force officers followed the gang members leaving the residence on Orchard Lane to a home located in the 1400 block of Cardella Road. Gang Task Force officers and GVSU officers heard several gun shots coming from the home on Cardella Road and surrounded the residence. Several gang members exited the home which included; Miguel Villegas, 22, Jose Nanez, 20, William Villegas, 20, Enrique Villegas, 23, and Joey Garza, 31.
Officers served a search warrant of the home and located two handguns, a high capacity magazine and several rounds of ammunition. Officers also served a search warrant at the home on Orchard Lane and located several rounds of ammunition and large bags of marijuana.
All five gang members were arrested booked at the Merced County jail for felon in possession of firearms, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of marijuana for sales, discharge of a firearm, conspiracy and gang enhancements.
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact GVSU Sgt. Rodriguez 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 police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the text message.
Source: Merced Police Department
