July 24, 2024 – Merced County Sheriff's Office officials report on an attempted train theft in Ballico.
Kudos to Deputy Miller and Deputy Toste for halting a train theft! At around 9:00 a.m., Merced County Dispatch received a call for service regarding thieves stealing from a train near Santa Fe Road and Bradbury Drive in Ballico.
Though the thieves initially escaped, the deputies located what they believed to be stolen items from the train in a nearby orchard. They also located a suspect, Victor Garza, who was immediately arrested. A second suspect, Christian Esquivel, was also captured as he was found hiding in a eucalyptus tree nearby.
Both suspects now face burglary charges and were later booked into Merced County Jail. A round of applause for our deputies' dedication!
Source: Merced County Sheriff's Office