MERCED COUNTY, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – An Amazon delivery van driver had his van stolen at gunpoint in Winton, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators say on Jan. 22, around 1:30 p.m., deputies were called for a report of a stolen Amazon delivery van in the 9100 block of Buhach Road in Winton.
When deputies arrived, they found the delivery driver, who says a man approached him with a gun and ordered him out of the van at gunpoint.
Deputies say the suspect fled the area with the van, which had numerous packages inside.
The van was located in Ballico, with most of the packages missing the next day.
Detectives say they identified the suspect as 42-year-old Jose Maria Torres. On Jan. 25, detectives located Torres and took him into custody without incident. Detectives say they also found a loaded, unregistered handgun with an extended magazine, narcotics, paraphernalia and additional evidence connecting him to the theft of the Amazon van.
Detectives located stolen property from the van. Officials say Torres was booked into jail for the following charges: carjacking, possessing a firearm and ammunition as a felon, possession of narcotics/controlled substances and paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance while armed with a firearm.