On October 20, 2014 at approximately 10:21 a.m., Officer Sean Bayard was working traffic enforcement on a police motorcycle in the 2800 block of Pacheco Boulevard. Bayard noticed a 2004 Infiniti make an abrupt right turn, nearly colliding with another vehicle as the driver turned into the parking lot of a local storage business.
Officer Bayard made a traffic enforcement stop and began speaking with the driver, 20-year-old Eric Correa and passenger, 24-year-old Celso Alvarado, both of Gilroy, California. As Bayard spoke with Correa and Alvarado, he smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.
The officer searched the vehicle, locating marijuana throughout the passenger compartment. As the search continued, Officer Bayard found approximately nine pounds of marijuana in the vehicle and cash believed to be connected to marijuana sales. The seized marijuana has an estimated street value of $27,000.00.
“Our October traffic enforcement month has been netting more than just traffic tickets. First a stolen vehicle recovery and now a large scale marijuana bust.”
- Gary Brizzee, Chief of Police
Correa and Alvarado were both arrested and charged with transportation and sales of marijuana. Alvarado was additionally charged with providing false information to a peace officer after he gave a false name to officers. Both men are out of custody on bail.
Anyone with information on this case or others is urged to contact Officer Sean Bayard at (209) 827-7070, extension 115.
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
