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Bike-riding Keyes man with arrest warrant found with meth
Manuel Gonzales
Manuel Gonzales

A Keyes man faces multiple charges after he was spotted by a Ceres Police motorcycle officer on Tuesday afternoon, April 26 as he was trying to conceal an open container of beer while riding his bicycle.

At 3:26 p.m., Ceres Police motorcycle Officer Freddie Ortiz was traveling southbound on Moffett Road from Fowler Road when he saw Manuel Gonzales, 34, of Keyes, acting suspiciously as he attempted to hide something in his left hand. Officer Ortiz passed by Gonzales as he continued to move the item around his body in attempts to hide it. Officer Ortiz then noticed the item was an alcoholic beverage.

Officer Ortiz flipped a U-turn to contact Gonzales who quickly ducked into Smyrna Park. Ortiz rolled up behind Gonzales who was pouring out the can. Ortiz ordered him to stop and made contact with him next to the children’s playground.

Officer Ortiz spoke to Gonzales about the open container while investigating, and the suspect gave a false name because he had a felony warrant for his arrest.

During a search of the suspect, Officer Ortiz located three small bindles of suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke it. Besides the warrant, Gonzales was later booked for possession of a controlled substance, delaying a peace officer in the performance of his duty, transportation of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.