April 1, 2023 - Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that on March 31, 2023, at approximately 1:00 P.M., Merced Police Gang Officers arrested a 17-year-old juvenile for possession of a firearm and for possession of marijuana after serving a search warrant.

On Friday, March 31, Officer Rocha with the Gang Violence Suppression Unit conducted a follow up investigation regarding Luis Hernandez (39) storing ammunition and firearms at his home in the 400 block of Vargus Ct. Hernandez was recently arrested for possession of a concealed firearm in Stanislaus County, and he is currently incarcerated for that incident.

When officers served a search warrant, they located a 45-caliber revolver and over 2,000 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition that was being stored for Hernandez. Officers also located a loaded 410 shotgun, ammunition and 200 grams of marijuana hidden in the bedroom of a 17-year-old juvenile. The juvenile was arrested and booked into juvenile hall for being in possession of a firearm, ammunition, and narcotics.

Merced PD Case Number: 23-16430

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 & photo: Merced Police Department