Merced police arrest 3 in car theft investigations

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Three suspects are facing charges after two car theft investigations in the North Valley.

Merced police arrested Ignacio Reyes, 24, and Julian Ramirez, 19, early Friday morning. They say both men were caught driving away in a car that was stolen one hour earlier in downtown.

Officers arrested Edmund Mathis III, 23, for a separate case Friday night. He's accused of driving another car that was stolen from the downtown area. Police say he admitted he needed a screwdriver to start the ignition.