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Police identify driver who got away in chase
Ceres Cop Car

Jeff Francisco Salgado, 41, of Ceres, has been identified as the driver who got away during a Friday morning police pursuit that stretched from Ceres to Livingston in Merced County. Ceres Police are hoping the public can supply information leading to his arrest.

The chase began at 12:14 a.m. when Ceres patrol officer Kiashira Ruiz witnessed the driver of a silver Honda run a stop sign at approximately 30 mph while traveling northbound on Central Avenue at Magnolia Street. Officer Ruiz activated her lights and siren and tried to catch up to the car as it turned eastbound on Whitmore Avenue. The driver, later identified as Salgado, did not stop and the pursuit was on.

The chase reached a high rate of speed eastbound on Whitmore Avenue before traveling southbound on Mitchell Road and then onto southbound lanes Highway 99. Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jose Berber said Salgado exited the freeway at the Monte Vista exit in Turlock and continued southbound on Countryside Drive driving in the northbound lanes. The pursuit was back on the freeway via the Fulkerth Road southbound onramp and was taken over by the California Highway Patrol.

Sgt. Berber said the chase ended near Livingston where Salgado stopped his car in an orchard and took off running. A CHP sergeant recognized Salgado from previous car chases, said Sgt. Berber.

Anyone who has information on Salgado's whereabouts is urged to call the Ceres Police Detectives Bureau at 538-5727.