Newman Police

Felony charges

Two Newman men face felony charges after allegedly breaking into an Amy Drive home and assaulting the occupant.

The victim told police he was sleeping in the mid-afternoon hours of Oct. 17 when he heard the doorbell. As he got up to answer the door, the victim told authorities, the door was kicked in and he was confronted by two men and assaulted.

Authorities said the suspects were subsequently located at their residence, which is also in the 1200 block of Amy Drive, and taken into custody.

Police said Robert S. Singh, 52, was booked on felony charges of being a felon in possession of ammunition, battery and burglary, and Joshua L. Price, 30, was booked on felony charges of battery, burglary and violating his probation.

Drug charge

Police said Wesley O. Pettit, 57, of Newman, was arrested Oct. 17 on charges of possessing a controlled substance.

According to police reports, officers making contact with Pettit in the area of M and Tulare streets found him to be in possession of a substance believed to be methamphetamine.

He was booked on the drug charge.

Windows broken

Newman police received two reports of vandalism involving broken windows last week.

The windshield of a vehicle parked in the Mustang Peak Apartments was broken, with damage estimated at $350. Police had responded to the area for a report of a group of males in the parking lot throwing rocks.

Police were also told that a window in a home in the 300 block of Cinnamon Teal Way valued at $400 was reportedly broken with a BB gun shot.

Activity report

Newman police received 174 calls for service, handled 18 cases, made 16 arrests, issued 38 traffic citations and towed two vehicles in the week ending Oct. 23, according to the department’s weekly activity report.

Gustine Police

DUI arrests

Gustine police said three motorists were recently arrested on suspicion of DUI.

The motorists were identified as:

• Ruben Lujan III, 25, of Gustine, who was arrested Oct. 15. Officers made contact with Lujan at his residence in the 900 block of Railroad after following him from the area of 4th Street and South Avenue and placed him under arrest, according to police reports. He was booked into Los Banos Jail.

• Theo J. Howard, 67, of Oregon, who was arrested Oct. 23 by an officer who had followed the driver from Gustine to Newman and made a traffic stop at Highway 33 and Inyo. He was booked into Merced County Jail.

• Juan A. Herrera, 44, of Gustine, who was arrested Oct. 24 at Chevron. The arrest followed a citizen report of a possible drunken driver heading southbound on Highway 33 toward Gustine. Herrera was booked into Merced County Jail.

BB gun assault

Gustine police said an employee at Pusateri Nut reported being struck by two shots fired from a BB gun on Oct. 19. The employee had gone to her car at lunch break when the BB’s were fired. The victim reported that the BB’s were fired from a vehicle described as a green, sporty car with tinted windows.

Vandalisms

Police have received reports of broken windows at two additional businesses that coincide with the time frame of a series of incidents along the Highway 33 corridor earlier this month. Authorities said two windows were reportedly broken at Ford Farm Supply, and Nunes Auto Care also reported damage.

Fraudulent check case

Police are investigating a case in which a fraudulent check in the amount of $723 was cashed at Highway 33 Drive-Up Market.

The incident was reported Oct. 19.

Activity report

Gustine police received 94 calls for service, handled 20 cases, made 10 arrests and issued 17 traffic citations in the week ending Oct. 25, according to the department’s weekly activity report.