February 12, 2023 - Merced – The Merced Police Department reported that on Saturday, February 11, 2023, at approximately 3:28 P.M., the Merced Police Departments Gang Violence Suppression Unit arrested a woman for sales of fentanyl and child endangerment.

On February 11, 2023, Officer Arnulfo Centeno with the Merced Police Departments Gang Unit followed up on information regarding fentanyl sales in the 3000 block of El Capitan Ave. in Merced. Officers served a search warrant at the residence of Jesi Platz (28) and located approximately 50 grams of fentanyl, packaging material and scales. Officers also located large amounts of ammunition and several replica firearms in holsters.

Due to the condition of the home and the large amount of drug paraphernalia, a child in the home was detained and turned over to Child Protective Services. Platz was arrested for sales of narcotics, child endangerment, for operating a house where narcotics are sold and used and for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. Platz was booked into the Merced County Jail for these charges and for an outstanding warrant regarding a prior narcotic sales arrest.

Merced PD Case Number: 23-7675

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Arnulfo Centeno at 209-388-7742 or by email at CentenoA@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