REEDLEY – The Reedley Police Department arrested two men who led officers on a brief high-speed pursuit in a residential area.
According to RPD, officers received a call about a possible intoxicated driver in the area of Manning Avenue and Fisher Avenue just after 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 10. When officers arrived on scene, they located the vehicle in the neighborhood north of Manning, near Columbia and Ponderosa Avenues, and attempted to stop the vehicle. RPD said the driver failed to yield “and a short pursuit ensued.”
The vehicle continued at speeds of 50 miles per hour in the neighborhood and drove up a curb and collided into the front porch of a residence, taking out a nearby fence, RPD said in a press release. The vehicle continued to flee for a short distance but eventually collided into a Reedley police patrol vehicle, and the driver and a passenger were detained shortly after.
During the pursuit, a firearm was thrown from the vehicle, according to RPD. Officers later located the firearm and found it was loaded and unserialized, the press release said.
The driver was identified as Victor Chavez, 20, of Fresno, who was arrested and charged with drunk driving, felony evasion and possession of an unserialized firearm. The passenger was identified as Anthony Virk, 24, of Reedley, who was arrested and charged with a probation violation and for being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Both were transported to the Fresno County Jail.
RPD said no officers, community members or suspects were injured.
