On April 16, 2015 at approximately 10:25 a.m., officers were dispatched to Henry Miller Elementary School located at 545 W. L Street to investigate the report of a male armed with a firearm. School administration told police, the school was already on lockdown as a precaution.
Several officers were dispatched to the area to search for the suspect and secure the school. Sergeant Jesse Ceja located 32-year-old Lazaro Sandoval of Los Banos walking in the 1200 block of Illinois Avenue. The sergeant noticed the handle of a firearm protruding from a helmet hanging from the handle bars of the bicycle Sandoval was pushing.
After detaining Sandoval, the sergeant discovered the gun was an “air soft” style toy gun. Upon further examination, officers determined the orange safety tip had been painted over with black spray paint to make the toy appear more realistic.
Once Sandoval was secured and no additional suspects were located, the school lockdown was lifted.
Sandoval was arrested and booked into the Los Banos Police Department on the charge of altering an imitation firearm.
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 contact the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1(855) 725-2420 or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org.
