On September 22, 2018, the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) contacted 19-year-old gang member Craig Turner in the 200 block of W 18th Street in Merced. Officers conducted a probation search of Turner and located a sawed off shotgun and ammunition wrapped in a plastic bag near him.

Turner is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing any firearms. Turner was arrested and admitted ownership of the shotgun. He was booked at the Merced County jail for weapons charges and gang enhancements.

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.