November 30, 2022 – Merced – On November 29th, at 7:45 P.M. Officer Drees was conducting speed enforcement in the 2500 block of G St. A 2014 silver 
BMW was observed traveling at 80 mph. When Officer Drees attempted to stop the vehicle, it sped up, resulting in a pursuit. After running several stop signs in a residential neighborhood, the car collided with a tree in Applegate Park. The driver, later identified as Joseph Gonzalez (30), ran from the vehicle but was captured after he ran through Bear Creek. Gonzalez left two loaded firearms in the car. He was also determined to be under the influence of alcohol. Gonzalez was later booked into the Merced County jail for reckless driving, felony evading, DUI, and various weapons charges.
Case Number: 22-69864
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Drees at 209-388-7809 or by email at dreesd@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.
Source: Merced Police Department
