Arturo Manriquez Jr., 20, of Vernalis was arrested by Ceres police for possession of a gun reported stolen in Sacramento during 2016.

Police were alerted to Manriquez who was reported as a suspicious person hiding in a 2008 White Nissan Altima in the 1500 block of Charlottesville Lane on Wednesday, Feb. 14. At 10:20 p.m., Officers Brian Petersen and Mike Vierra checked out the suspect who appeared to be either passed out or sleeping in the driver seat. Officers attempted to rouse Manriquez by pounding on the window but he was unresponsive. Officer Petersen used his flashlight to look into the car and noticed the butt of a handgun sticking out of his left front pocket. Officer Petersen noticed the driver side door was unlocked and opened the door to remove the gun, a semi-automatic Smith & Wesson 9mm with eight bullets in the magazine. Even after removing the handgun Manriquez did not wake up.

The officers removed him from the vehicle and were able to wake him. He told police that he was parked in the area by his cousin's house. It was determined, however, that his cousin lived in south Modesto. Manriquez also claimed he was in the process of buying the handgun from a friend.

Manriquez was booked into the Stanislaus County jail for felony possession of stolen property, and possession of a loaded concealed firearm in a vehicle.