On September 21, 2014, at approximately 8:32 a.m., Officer Jairo Acosta was on patrol in the 900 block of J Street, when he contacted 29-year-old Rachelle Landers standing outside a local motel room. As the officer was speaking with Landers he observed several bindles of methamphetamine in plain view inside the room.
Officer Acosta and Officer Christopher Borchardt detained Landers and 27-year-old Vanessa Ramirez inside the room. In addition to the methamphetamine, officers located hypodermic syringes and a loaded revolver type firearm in the room. The identifying serial numbers on the firearm had been filed off; leading police to believe the weapon was stolen or involved in a crime.
“We are happy to have another weapon taken off the streets and out of the hands of criminals. Our detectives will run a trace on the firearm to determine if it has been involved in any crimes.”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
The officers spoke with another man connected to the same room. The man, Tommy Hernandez Gutierrez, 43, was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and hypodermic syringes.
Rachelle Landers and Vanessa Ramirez were both booked into the Los Banos Police Department Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, removal of identification on a firearm, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of hypodermic syringes. Both remain in custody remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of $134,000.00 bail.
Tommy Hernandez Gutierrez was booked into the Los Banos Police Department Jail Facility on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of hypodermic syringes. He remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of $10,200.00 bail.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
