March 25, 2023 - Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that on March 24, 2023, at approximately 12:45 P.M., Merced Police Detectives and Gang Officers arrested a wanted man during the service of a search warrant for possession of firearms and stolen property.

On March 24, Merced Police investigators and gang officers served a search warrant in the 2000 block of East Childs Ave. in Merced. They received information that Ricky Ornelas (39) was in possession of stolen property and firearms. As officers served the search warrant, Ornelas fled out the back of the property. Perimeter officers and the drone unit were able to track Ornelas and place him under arrest.

As officers searched the property, they located a loaded 45 caliber handgun, a loaded 25 caliber handgun, numerous California ID cards, credit cards, checks, laptops, and pieces of mail. Officers also located a large stolen generator from the Fresno area. Officers will attempt to notify citizens whose property was located.

Ornelas was wanted on several violations of probation. Ornelas was booked into Merced County Jail for his warrants, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of stolen property.

Merced PD Case Number: 23-15156

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Taylor Rocha at 209-388-7770 or by email at Rocha T@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 & photos: Merced Police Department