Friday, Oct. 05, 2012

Shooter prompts massive police presence

Police, sheriff , CHP, SWAT all respond

A man allegedly firing a gun from his back yard gave police the impression that he was shooting at them, authorities said, triggering a multiple law enforcement response Saturday.

The Los Banos Police Department responded to San Luis Street and Park Warren Drive at 10:42 p.m. for a report of shots fired. Police said the caller reported hearing shots coming from the field north of San Luis Street and Place Road.

Three officers arrived and began checking a small structure in the field north of San Luis Street, police said. As they were completing their search, they heard several shots coming from the back yard of a residence several hundred yards to the east in the 300 Block of Park Warren Drive.

The officers also saw muzzle flashes and thought someone was shooting at them, police said. The Merced County Sheriff's Department, California Highway Patrol and Merced County SWAT were called for backup.

Officer Fiafaimane Leao detained Jacob Gonzales, 27, of Merced after he was spotted walking away from the Park Warren residence.

SWAT members subsequently used a loud speaker to order the remaining occupants out of the home. A stand-off ensued. After a few hours, an adult male and an adult female came out of the house; two children were found sleeping inside.

A search of the residence yielded a handgun, police said, and shell casings and live ammunition in the backyard.

Gonzales was arrested on suspicion of assault with a firearm, reckless discharge of a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Gonzales is in custody at the Los Banos Jail in lieu of $110,000 bail.

Lacinda Gonzales, 20, was arrested on suspicion of obstructing law enforcement during an investigation. She has been released and is scheduled to appear in Merced County Superior Court.

"We're thankful none of our officers were injured and our detectives are still trying to figure out what the suspect's intentions were and why he was shooting," Cmdr. Ray Reyna Jr. said. "We believe alcohol may have been a factor in this case and there is no indication this was gang-related."

Police Chief Gary Brizzee expressed gratitude to the law enforcement agencies that assisted.

"We are very fortunate to have such a great relationship with our allied agencies. We were in need of a hand and in within minutes the Merced County Sheriff's Department and CHP were in Los Banos; they are a tremendous help and we greatly appreciate their assistance," Brizzee said.