On Saturday, September 22, 2018, the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) and Livingston Police officers served a search warrant at Richard Peel’s residence in the 7300 block of Schafer Road in Winton for drugs. During the search, officers located 354 grams of meth, scales, packaging material, 13 firearms, ammunition, a stolen motorcycle and cash.

The assault rifle and a 22 caliber rifle were reported stolen. Peel admitted ownership of the drugs and guns. He was arrested and booked at the Merced County jail for sales of narcotics, receiving stolen property and weapons charges.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) Sgt. Rodriguez at (209) 385-4710 or 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.