August 10, 2023 – Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that on August 9, 2023, at approximately 12:15 P.M., Merced Police Officers arrested a man during a traffic stop in possession of a loaded handgun, marijuana for sale, and stolen checks.
On August 9, 2023, Officer Garnica and Mendoza were working with the Gang Violence Suppression Unit. The officers stopped a vehicle near 15th Street and R Street for vehicle code violations. The driver Rodrigo Cardenas-Valencia (27) was found to have a suspended driver’s license. Valencia was arrested and as officers conducted a search of the vehicle, a loaded 45 caliber handgun, 326 grams of marijuana, $6,700 in US currency and numerous stolen checks and credit cards were found in the vehicle.
Valencia was arrested for possession of a concealed loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of marijuana for sale, and Identify theft. The investigation into the stolen property is still ongoing.
Merced PD Case Number: 23-41408
Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Garnica at 209-388-7795 or by email at GarnicaL@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
