What started out as a welfare check for a distraught woman on Thursday, March 3, resulted in an Oakdale man’s arrest for possession of 19 grams of methamphetamine and a loaded gun.

Oakdale Police Lieutenant Keri Redd said police were called to the 100 block of Willowood Drive regarding a 911 call from a woman around 11:40 p.m. asking police to check the well-being of her daughter who seemed distraught over the telephone.

According to the police report, when officers arrived they located a woman matching the description who was “visibly distraught” in the parking lot of the apartment complex. The woman said she was reluctant to talk to police out of fear, but eventually told officers that Luis Baez Jr. was inside her apartment playing with a gun, racking its slide back and forth. She also stated Baez had displayed several bags of methamphetamine that evening.

Lt. Redd said the department is familiar with Baez Jr., 32, through prior contacts and arrests mostly involving illegal narcotics.

While officers were talking with the woman who informed them she wanted Baez Jr. to leave, she received a call from him on her cellphone. Police Sergeant Ben Savage spoke with Baez Jr. and instructed him and another occupant who was with him to walk out of the apartment with their hands in view.

After officers searched Baez Jr. and the occupant, the woman gave police permission to search the apartment.

Officer Andy Stever located a .45 caliber pistol loaded with hollow point bullets and four cellophane bags of methamphetamine – with a total weight of just under an ounce – partially hidden in a bedroom of the apartment that was used for the woman’s infant.

Both the woman and other occupant told officers at the scene that the pistol and bags belonged to Baez Jr.

Lt. Redd said as police investigated, they learned the gun recovered was reported stolen in a burglary in Modesto from November 2014.

Police arrested Baez and booked him on felony charges of possession of methamphetamine while armed, a felon in possession of a handgun, a felon in possession of ammunition, and possession of stolen property. He is currently being held at Stanislaus County Jail with a bail of $50,000.