Gustine Police

Sexual assault charge

Gustine police said Mario A. Garibay, 34, of Gustine was arrested July 24 on suspicion of forcible rape following the alleged assault of a developmentally disabled 16-year-old girl.

The alleged assault occurred July 22, according to police reports.

Authorities said Garibay was booked into Merced County Jail and remained in custody Tuesday. Bail was set at $402,500.

K-9 finds pot stash

Gustine police said the department’s new drug dog, Meeka, alerted officers to marijuana hidden in a vehicle during the course of a routine traffic stop July 28.

Police said the dog alerted to the subject’s car while the officer was writing a traffic citation. Police said the dog led police to just over two ounces of marijuana hidden in a beverage cooler.

The driver, 40-year-old Raymond P. Tunkel of Modesto, was issued a citation for the marijuana.

Vehicle theft

Police said a 1973 Ford pickup was reported stolen July 28 from a residence in the 900 block of Lucerne.

Authorities said the keys had been left in the vehicle.

Weekly report

Gustine police reported 161 calls for service or officer-initiated contacts, took 43 reports and made a total of seven arrests during the past week, according to the department’s activity report.

Newman Police

Narcotics charges

Two Modesto residents were arrested July 24 on narcotics charges following a traffic stop on Hills Ferry Road.

Officers searching the vehicle after learning that the driver had a suspended license discovered a substance believed to be methamphetamine, according to police reports.

Both occupants, identified as James H. Rudranand, 29, and Shalendra K. Sharma, 39, were arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance.

Felony charge

A Newman woman faces charges of child endangerment following a parole/probation search of a residence in the 1900 block of Patrick Drive on July 24.

Police reports state that Lora L. Landeros, 30, was arrested on the felony charge when police found her two childen living in the residence with no food, electricity or water, as well as other unsafe conditions.

Another person at the home, Sonnet M. Davis, 24, of Newman, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of obstructing an officer after allegedly denying officers entry to the residence.

The children were taken into protective custody, police said.

Weekly report

Newman police responded to 66 calls for service, reported 69 instances of officer-initiated activity, made six felony arrests and 12 misdemeanor arrests, handled 41 cases and issued 18 traffic tickets during the past week, according to the department’s activity report.