Atwater, CA (February 5, 2026) — An Atwater man has been arrested in connection with the death of an infant earlier this year, according to the Atwater Police Department.
Police said Detective Sergeant Brum and Detective Corchado arrested Maleek McIntyre, an Atwater resident, in connection with an infant death that occurred on January 23, 2026, in the 600 block of Cedar Avenue. Authorities said the arrest was made without incident. McIntyre was subsequently booked into the Merced County Jail to face charges. The specific charges were not detailed in the department’s public statement.
According to the original incident report released by Atwater Police, officers were dispatched to the residence at approximately 10:26 a.m. on January 23 following a report of a possibly deceased infant. Officers arrived within one minute of the call and immediately began life-saving measures, including CPR, until medical personnel arrived. Despite those efforts, the infant was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Police stated that the department’s Detective Division continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the infant’s death. No additional information regarding the case, including the cause of death or further investigative findings, has been released at this time.
The Atwater Police Department extended its condolences to the family of the deceased child and emphasized that the investigation remains ongoing.
