Suspect Wanted for Weapons Violation 

October 1, 2023 - Merced – Merced Police Department officials report that Merced PD Officers conducted a search warrant in Atwater on September 29, 2023, and located an AR-15 rifle. The resident was not home and is currently wanted.

On September 29, 2023, at approximately 12:46 P.M., Gang Officers with the Merced Police Department served a search warrant in the 1100 block of Kadota Ave in Atwater. Officers learned that the resident Karen Walker-Haywood (28) was in possession of an AR-15 rifle that she had picked up after her boyfriend Wayne West Jr. hid it when he fled from police officers on 9-7-23.

West and Walker were stopped in Merced on 9-7-23 near E. Main St. and Yosemite Parkway by the Merced Police Departments Gang Unit. During the traffic stop West began ramming the officers’ cars and he fled from the scene. Walker was pulled from the car prior to it fleeing. Officers later located West and arrested him, but they did not locate any weapons on him at that time.

The officers recently received a tip that Walker was able to pick up the rifle after West hid it and she was said to be keeping the rifle at her home. As officers served the warrant, they located the rifle and ammunition. Walker was not home at the time the warrant was served and she is currently wanted on firearm related charges. If you see Walker, please notify law enforcement.

Case Number: 23-51467

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Justin Saldivar at 209-388-7735 or by email at SaldivarJ@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