MERCED - Officersfrom the Merced Police Department investigated a gun magazine found on the Campus of Merced High Monday morning. A student notified a Merced High School Campus Liaison that they found a loaded magazine in the bushes on the campus but did not tell the Liaison that they were the one that placed it there fearing violating school rules.

Officers concluded that the student who reported the magazine was the person who brought the magazine onto the campus after finding it on their way to school. When officers went to the area of Clearwater Court, where the juvenile said he found the magazine, officers saw two subjects on the ground appearing to be searching for something. When officers tried to contact them, both ran from officers but were caught after a short chase.

One of the subjects was not charged when officers determined he was not part of the crime. The second subject, Bobby Franco, was found to be in possession of ammunition that matched the ammunition from the magazine recovered at the school earlier.

“Sage” a Merced County Probation Department Police Service dog and her handler responded to assist in locating the firearm. After a short search, Sage was successful in locating a 9mm handgun that was hidden in foliage. The gun was the same make and model of the magazine also found at the location and later brought to school.

Franco was arrested for resisting arrest, violation of probation, being a felon in possession of ammunition, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, obliteration of identification marks, and the commission of a crime in furtherance of a street gang,

School officials initially placed the School on Lock Down once notified of the gun magazine as a precautionary measure and School Officials have lifted the Lock Down.

It was determined that the 15 year old juvenile who reported that they found the loaded magazine on school grounds, had actually found the magazine on the way to school and placed the magazine in the bushes only to later report finding the item on school grounds.

The 15 year old juvenile was arrested and released to parents for bringing ammunition of school grounds and to causing a disruption of school by not telling school officials where the magazine had come from.

The Merced Police Department asks that if anyone finds any dangerous or suspicious item such as firearm, to leave it alone and call the Police Department immediately.

The Merced Police are asking anyone with any information regarding these cases to contact Detective Sannadan at (209) 385-7773, or the Merced Police Department Tipster Line at (209) 385-4725. The public can send information via anonymous text messages to police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411) and including the word “Comvip” as the “keyword” in the text message.