Latest news with #MercedCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Traffic advisory issued ahead of country music concert in Merced County
The Merced County Sheriff's Office has issued a traffic advisory for the area surrounding Castle Airport ahead of the Luke Bryan Farm Tour 2025 show expected to draw about 20,000 people to Castle Airport on May 15. Authorities said extremely heavy traffic is expected in the area and advise motorists to avoid both eastbound and westbound Sante Fe Avenue between Atwater and Merced between 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday. The Merced County Sheriff's Office said the drop off location for those attending the show is at 3009 Stratofortress Drive. Vehicles entering via North Buhach Road are to continue straight in the right lane toward the grounds and then right onto Stratofortress Drive to the drop off point. Motorists entering via Spaceport Entry are to inform traffic staff that they are dropping off and then proceed to Stratofortress Drive to the drop off location. Motorists picking up someone after the concert can use the far right lane of Santa Fe Drive at Franklin Road only after 9 p.m., authorities said. Motorists taking this route should inform law enforcement they are there to pick up someone. From there, motorists will travel to the two miles to Spaceport Entry and then proceed to Stratofortress Drive. The sheriff's office said traffic will then make a left onto Airlift Drive and follow the outbound traffic. Authorities said additional road closure information can be found at the perimetermap website. Bryan, an American Idol judge and five-time Country Music Awards Entertainer of the Year, is scheduled to headline his 16th farm tour at Castle Airport in Atwater before heading to The Ponds at Harland Ranch in Clovis on May 16 and Sillect Farms in Shafter on May 17. The tour features artists Tyler Hubbard, Rhett Atkins, DJ Rock and Dallas Davidson. Chayce Beckham will be featured as one of the acts on tour on May 15 and 16. Parking opens at 2 p.m. and doors open at 5 p.m. prior to the 6 p.m. show time, according to the singer's website. Merced County District 3 Supervisor Daron McDaniel said Bryan's production team has collaborated with local schools including the Future Farmers of America, employing students to work in parking and food services during the event. McDaniel said the event will have a positive impact on the local economy and that event organizers encourage tailgating. Bryan's production team will even be making a donation back to the schools. 'That really helps our community,' said McDaniel. 'They're going to buy beverages, they're going to buy food, snacks and stuff for tailgate. You got 20,000 people out in the parking lot going to have fun before they go into the concert that's going to be very beneficial to the community.'
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
More than 20 rounds reportedly fired during Merced County Sheriffs high-speed chase
Deputies with the Merced County Sheriff's Office reportedly fired more than 20 rounds during a high-speed, officer-involved shooting earlier this month. Juan Ibarra Rosales, a 38-year-old from Merced County, reportedly suffered a gunshot wound to his upper body and sustained an injury to one of his legs when he crashed a vehicle during a pursuit in Delhi. He's since been charged with multiple felonies, according to court documents. The shooting incident happened Feb. 1. Merced County Sheriff's deputies responded around 8 p.m. to the area of Wood Street and Hillside Street in Delhi for a report of suspicious vehicle that reportedly drove past a residence and allegedly tried to run over the reporting party, court documents show. When deputies arrived, they located a single occupant inside a 2023 gray Hyundai Sonata that was registered to Ibarra Rosales. Deputies later confirmed Ibarra Rosales to be the driver of the vehicle. A case summary indicates the deputies attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on the vehicle due to a missing front license plate. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to deputies and took off resulting in a vehicle pursuit. According to the case report, the pursuit lasted roughly 20 to 30 minutes throughout the Delhi area and the suspect vehicle allegedly reached speeds of up to and estimated 130 mph. The report alleges Ibarra Rosales drove his vehicle into Merced Sheriff's Office patrol vehicles when in the area of Fiestas Event Center. Deputies ordered Ibarra Rosales to exit his vehicle at gunpoint and when he did not comply, multiple deputies reportedly attempted to remove the man from the vehicle. Ibarra Rosales allegedly accelerated through a chain-link fence and gate before continuing to accelerate, resulting in four deputies discharging their firearms in fear of their safety, according to the case report. Ibarra Rosales allegedly continued to accelerate after shots were fired and drove through a fence and through a nearby gas station, nearly striking a pedestrian as deputies continued to shoot at the vehicle. The Hyundai then drove south at a high rate of speed before ultimately crashing into an SUV driven by an elderly woman, the report said. Both Ibarra Rosales and the woman were transported by Emergency Medical Services for treatment. The report said authorities performed a round count following the shooting and determined the sheriff sergeant and three deputies who discharged their firearms fired a total of 22 rounds during the incident with the assumption the firearms were fully loaded with an additional round in the chamber. Merced County Sheriff's Office detectives reportedly located 20 spent shell casings at the scene. Sheriff officials refused to comment on the number of rounds fired by the deputies, saying it is still under investigation. The report said the vehicle was struck multiple times by apparent gunfire and sustained significant front end damage as well as other body damage in the incident. Authorities reportedly found about one gram of suspected methamphetamine in Ibarra Rosales' clothing following the pursuit. According to a criminal complaint filed in Merced County Superior Court, the Merced County District Attorney's Office charged Ibarra Rosales with three counts of felony assault with a deadly weapon with enhancements, felony evading while driving recklessly with an enhancement and felony vandalism over $400, as well as an enhancement. Sheriff's office officials said the four deputies involved in the shooting are no longer on paid administrative leave, but did not say if the deputies have returned to active duty. No reprimands have been handed down to any of the deputies involved at this time. Officials refused to speculate on the intent of the deputies involved in the shooting, saying that is something that should become clear during the investigation. Ibarra Rosales remains in the hospital in stable condition under the medical professionals. An arraignment hearing on Feb. 7, was continued to Feb. 21, and Ibarra Rosales' bond was set at $150,000, according to court documents. Authorities said that by law, there is a 45 day timeline to release body camera footage of the incident. That timeline could be extended if more time is needed per the investigation. The last time a Merced County Sheriff's Office deputy was involved in a shooting was on April 29, 2023 when deputy Lucy Lopez fired three rounds at Jonathan Diaz-Duarte, fatally injuring him after he fired one round that struck the deputy in the ear.
