On December 7, 2019, the Merced Police Department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) officers developed information that gang member 41-year-old Juan Fernandez had a firearm.

Fernandez is a convicted felon prohibited from owning any firearms. Officers served a search warrant at his home in the 1600 block of Juneau Court.

During the search, officers located a 9mm handgun and ammunition inside the home. Fernandez was arrested and booked at the jail for felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition 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) 3854725.

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.