On Saturday March 31, 2018, the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) officers developed information that Eriberto Garcia 35-year-old had a gun and drugs at his home in the 500 block of W 5th St in Merced. GVSU officers contacted Garcia and authored a search warrant for his residence. During the search, officers located a handgun and ammunition inside his home. Espinoza was arrested and booked at the Merced County Jail for possession of a firearm and resisting arrest.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) Sgt. Rodriguez at (209) 385-4710, GVSU@cityofmerced.org or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the text message.