A man who ran from an officer and what was believed to be a stolen vehicle was seen tossing a loaded handgun and drugs before he was finally captured on Saturday evening, April 19.
At 7:30 p.m. officers responded to the Quik Stop at Service and Morgan roads for a possible unreported stolen vehicle. Officer Ross Bays saw a man running from the vehicle as he watched it and awaited backup. The suspect, Eric Vaughn, 38, ran on foot eastbound into a vacant lot. Bays drove into the dirt field and saw the suspect turn around and face the patrol car with a gun in his left hand. Bays' vehicle became stuck with a huge dust cloud enveloping the scene. The suspect was then seen running off across Service Road and throwing a gun over the fence toward a wastewater treatment plant pond. Bays freed his vehicle and followed Vaughn who then placed his hands in the air. Bays saw Vaughn reach for his waistband to dump some methamphetamine on the ground.
Bays forced Vaughn to the ground and arrested him on charges of being a felon violating the terms of his probation, possession of methamphetamine, obstructing or delaying an officer, and possession of a loaded concealed weapon.
Officer Brittney England recovered the .22 caliber pistol which landed near a pond. A search of the vehicle turned up a magazine and ammunition.
The vehicle was not stolen but was a civil dispute.
Ceres police also worked these other cases:
• TEEN CITED FOR TAGGING - A 15-year-old Ceres boy was cited by police after two witnesses claimed he painted graffiti on mailboxes and other structures in the 1700 block of Running Lane on Wednesday, April 16.
At 10:42 p.m. police were called about a suspicious person milling in the area. When police arrived that saw several "209" and "X4" gang tags which is Norteno affliated gang graffiti. Two witnessed singled out the boy.
After the citation to appear in court, the boy was released to his mother.
• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ARREST MADE - Manual Martinez, 42, of Ceres, was arrested on a felony domestic violence charge on Thursday after he allegedly slapped and a choked his girlfriend after an argument in the 2600 block of Roeding Road.
Police were called to an address at 3:40 a.m. and made contact with Martinez, who was outside the residence. He was arrested and an emergency protective order was issued to keep Martinez away from the victim.
• MAN SNATCHES WOMAN'S PURSE - Police are looking for a man who snatched a purse hanging from a woman's shoulder as she walked down the street on Tuesday, April 15 in the area of Central and Caswell avenues.
At 10:15 p.m. Officer Brittney England went to the area where there were reports of screams for help by a female. England located the 52-year-old victim who reported that an unknown tall and thin black male in his mid-20s ran up to her from behind and grabbed her purse.
The woman lost her purse, which contained her California ID card, $280 cash, prescription medication and house keys.
