Merced Bomb Unit responds to explosive device found in vehicle, two suspects arrested

Two burglary suspects were arrested in Merced.

Incident happened on March 30, 2020 at approximately 3:00 a.m.

Merced police say they responded to an address in northeast Merced for a residential burglary. It was determined that the suspect entered the victim’s garage and took two boxes of ammunition before leaving in a silver sedan.

At 6:05 a.m. officer, Brian Laguna located the suspect vehicle in the 3100 blk of R st. He ended identifying Joseph Malta (26) and Linda Salazar (35) as the responsible in the residential burglary.

During a search of the vehicle, the property was recovered along with narcotics. Officers also found an explosive device similar to a modified M80 in the vehicle as well. The Merced Police Department Bomb Unit responded to collect it, police say.

Joseph Malta and Linda Salazar were booked into the MCSO jail.

The public can send information via anonymous text messages to the police department by dialing “TIP411” (847411)

SALAZAR, LINDA ELENA (BURGLARY – RESIDENTIAL, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF CERTAIN SPECIFIC OR CLASSIFIED CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, RECEIVING/POSSESS STOLEN PROPERTY, POSSESSION OF BURGLARY TOOLS, POSSES CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, DISPLAY ON VEH/PRESENT TO OFFICER UNLAWFUL REG, UNREGISTERED VEHICLE, UNLICENSED DRIVER)