At about 11:17pm Friday, Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Deputy Machado made a traffic stop near E. Christoffersen Parkway and N. Berkeley Avenue.
The reason for the stop was failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.
As Machado walked up to the vehicle, it sped away, turned northbound on Berkeley, and pulled over again. Four subjects then all leg-bailed from it at that point.
A perimeter was established with the assistance of other deputies, along with Turlock Police and University Police. The sheriff’s office also responded with a helicopter and canine.
Two women, later identified as Jessica Salazar and Stephanie Reyes, both 19, of Merced, were immediately able to be detained at E. Springer Drive and Ivory Lane, while it took a little longer to catch the two men.
While on a perimeter position at Christoffersen and Berkeley, a deputy noticed a man later identified as Ebal Marquez, 27, of Livingston, leave the perimeter and walk southbound on Berkeley from the intersection. The deputy repeatedly yelled at Marquez to stop, but he failed to comply and continued walking away.
Other deputies were able to catch up to Marquez at Chandler Drive and Berkeley where they had to use a bean bag round to stop him.
A few minutes later, another deputy spotted a man later identified as Manuel Gutierrez, 29, of Merced, walking eastbound on Moonbeam Way from Berkeley.
Deputies were able to catch up to Gutierrez and Moonbeam and Country Walk Lane, where they detained him at gunpoint.
Gutierrez was determined to be the driver and was on probation out of Merced County for torturing or killing an animal.
American Medical Response responded to the scene and checked Marquez out for the bean bag deployment.
Salazar, Reyes, Marquez, and Gutierrez were all arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on the charge of obstructing or resisting a public officer in the discharge of their duty. Marquez was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, while Gutierrez was charged with driving without a valid license, failing to stop for a stop sign, and violation of probation.
