Editor’s note: The Courier was notified that the Ceres Police Department is “unable to provide a copy of the booking photos for the below listed arrests.” It is their current interpretation of Penal Code 13665 which is the result of Assembly Bill 1475 authored by Democratic Assemblyman Evan Low. We contend that the law only applies to police releasing mugshots on social media, not to bona fide news organization. We will be contesting their decision).

ATWATER MAN ARRESTED ON WARRANT, SMUGGLED DRUGS INTO JAIL

A 40-year-old Atwater man was arrested during a Ceres traffic stop on Tuesday evening, March 10, on a felony warrant related to theft.

Chad Pearson gained additional charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales and smuggling meth into the jail facility at the time he was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center.

During the booking process, Pearson was found to be concealing a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine as well as a plastic baggy and plastic bindle, both containing a white crystalline substance suspected of being methamphetamine. The total weight of suspected meth was over 25 grams.

The arrest came at approximately 10:14 p.m. when Ceres Police Officer Angel Diaz was patrolling the area of Hatch Road near Richland Avenue when he stopped Pearson driving a Kia van for vehicle code violations.

DRIVER ARRESTED TO FACE PRIOR CHARGES

A Friday traffic stop made on Federico Parra, 20, of Modesto ended with his arrest for a felony warrant related to a prior assault.

At 3:07 p.m., Pearson was pulled over in his Chrysler 300 by Ceres Police Officer Tyler Wilson in the area of Latimer and Anthony avenues for vehicle code violations. A records check revealed the warrant and led to his arrest and booking at the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. 

REPORT OF DUI DRIVER ENDS IN ARREST

A citizen’s report of a possible intoxicated driver led to a DUI arrest on Sunday evening.

Officers responded to the 5:53 p.m. report about the driver swerving down the road in the area of Railroad Avenue and Hackett Road. 

Sergeant Aaron Pinon located the Toyota RAV 4 conducted a traffic stop in the area of Don Pedro Road near Collins Road. Officer Gurwinder  Singh arrived on scene and contacted the driver, Jose Venegas, 39, of Modesto, and immediately suspected him of being under the influence of alcohol. Venegas participated in a series of field sobriety tests which indicated that he was under the influence of alcohol.

Venegas was arrested for DUI and provided breath samples over three times the legal limit. Venegas was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for DUI.

This was one of eight DUI arrests made by Ceres Police from March 10 to March 16.