Chase ends in arrest of pair; guns, bomb found in Modesto

[BEER980]

BEE STAFF REPORTS

A chase in Los Banos on Friday ended with two men in custody, several firearms confiscated and an explosive device being safely disposed of, the Merced County Sheriff's Department reported.

Sgt. Mike Parish said the bomb discovered inside the suspects' car consisted of a cardboard box containing a clock, wiring and a putty-like substance resembling a plastic explosive.

Parish said members of the Merced Police Department's bomb squad were called in to remove the device. He said they took it to a remote location and detonated it.

It wasn't immediately known if the substance inside the box was a plastic explosive, he said. However, one of the suspects told authorities the bomb was made with C-4, a military explosive substance.

The driver of the car, Omar Alexander Lopez, 21, of Los Banos and his passenger, Carlton Tolbert, 21, who gave no address, were booked at the Merced County Jail.

Lopez was being held for felony possession of a destructive device, felony evading a police officer, concealing firearms in a vehicle, false vehicle registration and hit-and-run. Tolbert also was booked for felony possession of a destructive device as well as three counts of carrying concealed and loaded firearms.

Bail amounts weren't available late Friday.

The incident began about 5 p.m., when deputy Javier Garcia ran a check of the license plate on a car he was following southbound on Highway 165 near Los Banos. The car had current tags, Parish said, but a check showed the registration had expired.

Garcia pulled the car over, but when he got out of his patrol car and approached on foot, the vehicle sped off. Parish said Garcia gave chase, joined by Deputy Buck Ledford.

All three cars continued southbound on 165 into Los Banos at high speed, with the suspects' vehicle sideswiping another car at one point.

Parish said the driver of the fleeing car then maneuvered onto the shoulder and around traffic. As he approached the intersection with Highway 152, however, traffic was so heavy he was forced to stop.

Tolbert jumped out and fled on foot. He was caught a short time later by Ledford, Parish said. During a search of Tolbert, the deputy found three loaded handguns, Parish said.

Meanwhile, Garcia approached the suspects' vehicle and took Lopez into custody. A search of the car turned up two rifles and ammunition, as well as the explosive device, said Parish.

Authorities haven't determined why the suspects were carrying the weapons or the bomb. Parish said they hadn't been linked to any other crimes in the area, but the investigation is continuing.

Source

[wx247]

what is it with modesto? Chandra Levy, Laci Peterson, and now this? Maybe the Weather Channel should be forecasting for Modesto. I can see it now. They could call it "Trial Weather".

[ColdFront77]

Interesting idea, Garrett. I haven't heard and/or seen this report on the national news... if it has been or will be, maybe The Weather Channel should look into a segment for Medesto, CA -- "Trial Weather."