Ceres Police Officer Eric Souza helped the California Highway Patrol in apprehending a man who was evading him on a stolen motorcycle late Tuesday, April 9.

At 11:55 p.m. Souza was monitoring the local CHP radio channel when he heard an officer following a stolen motorcycle on southbound Highway 99 from Kansas Avenue. As the chase passed the Hatch Road overpass, Officer Souza joined in the pursuit in the area of the Mitchell Road exit. Both units activated emergency lights and attempted to stop the motorcycle. Rider Joshua Erickson, 37, of Patterson, accelerated to 100 mph in an attempt to evade the officers.

Erickson took the Keyes Road exit but the CHP terminated the chase. Alone, Officer Souza continued the pursuit as the motorcycle got back onto southbound Highway 99. As the rider passed the Monte Vista exit the stolen motorcycle began to experience mechanical failure. Erickson rode to the right shoulder as it slowed to a crawl and he fell from the bike. He was arrested and booked into the Public Safety Center for evading a peace officer, grand theft auto and possess