Photos: Merced Police Department
Merced Police have arrested a known gang member who allegedly fled from officers and led them on a pursuit.
On the afternoon of December 5, officers with the department’s Gang Violence Suppression Unit tried to contact 29-year-old Marco Garibay on the 500 block of Collins Drive.
Police say Garibay fled in his vehicle, leading officers on a high-speed pursuit that ended when Garibay tried to jump a canal at Baker Drive and the Express Highway Overpass, disabling his vehicle. From there, he fled on foot into a nearby orchard.
An aerial unit from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office responded and helped officers locate Garibay, who was then taken into custody without further incident.
While searching Garibay’s vehicle, officers reportedly found a loaded AR pistol and a magazine for another handgun. A bag of narcotics he’d discarded during the pursuit was also recovered.
Garibay was ultimately booked on suspicion of possession of an assault weapon, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, possession of narcotics for sales, felony evading in a vehicle, and gang enchancements.
