January 30, 2022 - Merced - The Merced Police Department reports Merced Police Officer Jesus Lopez conducted a traffic stop at West 20th Street and ‘K’ Street on a white sedan with no front license plate. The driver, Antonio Pedeja,22, was found to be driving with a suspended license and taken into custody. A search of Mr. Pedeja revealed a firearm hidden in his waistband.

The passenger, Avina Benjamin,21, was asked to exit the vehicle while Officer Lopez conducted a vehicle search. A second firearm was located between the passenger seat and middle console. Mr. Benjamin was then taken into custody.

A further search of the vehicle revealed a third firearm hidden in the back seat along with several hundred fentanyl pills in a zip-lock bag. Antonio Pedeja and Avina Benjamin were transported to the Merced County Jail where they were booked for possession of stolen property, conspiracy, possession of high cap magazines, prohibited persons in possession of a firearm, and numerous drug related offenses.

Case Number: 22-5933

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Jesus Lopez at 209-388-7782 or by email at lopezj@cityofmerced.org.

Other ways to contact us or report crime include:

For any emergency call or text 911

For non-emergency call 209-385-6912

Anonymous Tip Line (Non-emergency) call 209-385-4725

Anonymous Tips online at http://www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org/index.html

Some crimes can be reported online through the Merced PD website https://www.cityofmerced.org/departments/police