Suspect Flees from Officers with Firearms 

August 20, 2023 - Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that on August 19, 2023, at approximately 1:35 P.M., Merced Police Officers arrested two suspects for attempting to sell firearms illegally.

On August 19, 2023, Officer Lopez received information that several subjects were attempting to sell firearms around 16th Street and R Street. Officers with the Gang Violence Suppression Unit assisted in locating the suspect vehicle. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the passenger fled with several firearms. Officer Garnica was able to chase down the suspect and catch him in the 1600 block of Q Street after a short foot pursuit.

The suspect who fled from the vehicle was identified as Bradley Garcia (18). The driver was identified as a 17-year-old juvenile. Officers located one of the firearms Garcia threw during the foot pursuit. Witnesses stated that a vehicle stopped and picked up the second firearm that Garcia threw. When officers searched the vehicle, they located handgun magazines belonging to both firearms.

Garcia was booked into Merced County Jail for firearms related charges and for resisting and obstructing a police officer. The juvenile was arrested and turned over to his parents.

Merced PD Case Number: 23-43372

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Lopez at 209-388-7782 or by email at LopezJ@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