Merced police arrest man on suspicion of aggressively stalking woman, running her off the road

“MERCED – Jaime Guevara (35) was arrested for criminal threats, stalking, assault with a deadly weapon, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

On Thursday, March 24th, 2022 at 9:15 PM, officers responded to the area of E. Olive Ave & G Street for a disturbance called in by the 37-year-old female victim. She reported that a vehicle was aggressively following her throughout the commercial parking lots. Guevara chased the victim down on E. Olive Ave and used his vehicle to force her off the road. The victim ended up in the Rite Aid parking lot where she was boxed in by Guevara’s vehicle and other parked cars.

Guevara exited his car and slashed her tires with a pocket knife. He retrieved a long rifle from his trunk and approached the victim’s car. The victim rammed Guevara’s vehicle and fled the area in fear for her life. Officers learned the victim and Guevara had formerly dated. Guevara sent several threatening text messages to the victim over the past few weeks.

Officers developed information that Guevara was staying with a relative in the 3000 block of Sycamore Drive. He was contacted at the residence and arrested.

Officer Tucker Zazueta and his canine partner “Zeke” searched the home for evidence related to the crime. The canine alerted and found a .308 semi-automatic rifle and ammunition underneath Guevara’s bed.

Guevara was booked at the Merced County Jail for criminal threats, stalking, assault with a deadly weapon, and prohibited person in possession of a firearm & ammunition.”