Photo: Scene of the arrest
Originally published as a Merced Police Department Facebook post:
“Merced – On May 25th, 2022 at approximately 3:11 P.M. an alert community member observed a Gold Honda Accord pull up behind a parked DHL delivery truck. The male passenger got tools out of the car and crawled under the truck and started cutting off the catalytic converter.
Sgt McKinnon was out on motorcycle patrol in the area and pulled up as Ricardo Cendeja (33) was crawling out from under the DHL van, the driver of the gold Honda Accord, Rosary Medlin (43) were both arrested. Additional officers from Traffic and Patrol arrived to assist in the investigation.
A sawzall, gloves and a bag were recovered under the van. The catalytic converter was cut but not completely removed. Cendeja was booked for 2 felony warrants and theft related charges, Medlin was booked for theft related charges. Several tools were recovered and seized as evidence.
Case Number: 22-30794″