On February 13th 2020, at approximately 12:15 p.m., Merced Police Officers were dispatched to the 1300 block of West 16th Street regarding a stolen Red Ford pickup truck.

Officer L. Cunning began searching the area when he found a Red Ford matching the description parked in the Siesta Motel parking lot.

As Officer Cunning pulled into the Siesta Motel, he observed a black male adult later identified as Xavier Carter getting into the red Ford truck.

As Officer Cunning approached the vehicle, Carter saw Officer Cunning and ran. Officer Cunning chased Carter on foot for a short period before capturing him in the 1200 block of West 16th Street.

During the foot chase, a witness observed Carter throw a handgun over the chain-link fence on the east side of the Slumber Motel.

Officers located a loaded 9 mm silver and black handgun inside the chain link fenced area. While Officer Cunning was conducting his investigation, a victim called the Merced Police Department indicating he had been robbed at gunpoint by a black male adult.

An infield show up was completed where the victim positively identified Carter as the suspect and gave an identical description of the firearm located at the Slumber Motel.

The victim stated the suspect stole approximately $250 from him. Carter had in his possession $230 dollars in cash. Carter was booked at the Merced County Jail for Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Armed Robbery, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Resisting Arrest.

Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding this crime to contact Officer Shaw at (209) 385-6905.

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