Officers Arrest Two Suspects After Three Firearms Located During Traffic Stop
Photo: confiscated in this arrest
Originally published as a Merced Police Department Facebook post –
“Merced –Merced Police Officer Jesus Lopez conducted a traffic stop at West 20th Street and ‘K’ Street on a white sedan with no front license plate.
The driver, Antonio Pedeja (22) was found to be driving with a suspended license and taken into custody. A search of Pedeja revealed a firearm hidden in his waistband.
The passenger, Avina Benjamin (21) was asked to exit the vehicle while Officer Lopez conducted a vehicle search. A second firearm was located between the passenger seat and middle console. Benjamin was then taken into custody.
A further search of the vehicle revealed a third firearm hidden in the back seat along with several hundred fentanyl pills in a zip-lock bag.
Pedeja and Benjamin were transported to the Merced County Jail where they were booked for possession of stolen property, conspiracy, possession of high cap magazines, prohibited persons in possession of a firearm, and numerous drug related offenses.”
