On April 4, 2018 at about 1:00 a.m. Deputy Hugo Bucio with the Merced County Sheriff’s Office conducted a vehicle stop on a suspicious vehicle in the area of N. Quinley Avenue and Mulberry Avenue in Atwater. Deputy Bucio contacted the two occupants of the vehicle identified as 27-year-old Andrew Tuttle and 33-year-old Crystal Morin of Merced.

Morin, who was the driver of the vehicle, did not have a driver’s license and Tuttle was on felony probation. Additionally, both subjects displayed the signs and symptoms of being under the influence.

While conducting his investigation Deputy Bucio saw a large amount of mail inside the vehicle that did not belong to Tuttle or Morin. The mail was addressed to multiple residences in the area.

The owners of the mail were contacted and all conceded that they did not know Tuttle or Morin and that the suspects should not have been in possession of their property. Originally, Tuttle and Morin were placed under arrest for possession of stolen property and mail theft. However after the initial arrest, Deputy Bucio searched the vehicle where he located drug paraphernalia, one gram of heroin, and several hypodermic needles.

Tuttle and Morin were booked into the Merced County Jail and the mail was returned to all the victims of this crime.