Merced police officers arrested a man after he lead them on a chase according to the Merced Police Department.

Officers from the Merced Police Department Gang Violence Suppression Unit (GVSU) attempted to contact a known gang member, 29-year-old Marco Garibay of Merced on Saturday at around 4:54 p.m. when the officers approached him in the 500 block of Collins Drive Garibay sped away in his vehicle erratically.

GVSU officers pursued Garibay to the area of Baker Drive and the new Merced Expressway overpass. Garibay’s vehicle became disabled when he jumped a small irrigation canal leading him to flee on foot into a nearby orchard. Officers surrounded the area and with the assistance of a helicopter unit from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office he was found.

Officers searched Garibay’s vehicle and located a loaded AR pistol and a magazine for another handgun. GVSU Sergeant Joe Perez stated, “getting this type of weapon out of the hands of gang members saves lives”. Garibay also threw out a bag containing narcotics during the pursuit, which was later retrieved by officers.

Garibay was arrested for possession of an assault weapon, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics for sales, felony evading in a vehicle and gang enhancements.

He was booked into the Merced County Jail after being treated for injuries resulting from an airbag deployment caused by the collision at the end of the pursuit.