Ceres Police apprehended a man on Saturday evening who moments prior outran Modesto Police who called off the chase.

James Knudsen, 32, of Modesto, was booked on charges of felony charges of evading police officer with disregard to public safety, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a controlled substance by a felon and driving on a suspended license.

Ceres Police got involved at 8:13 p.m. when Modesto Police alerted them that a pursuit of a white Chevrolet pickup was terminated at the intersection of Finch and Mariposa roads. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit, Air 101, tracked the pickup and advised Ceres Police that it was driving recklessly southbound on Mitchell Road toward Ceres but was not being pursued by law enforcement.

With lights and siren, Officer Souza chased the pickup as it made an eastbound turn onto Hatch Road from Mitchell Road. Knudsen continued speeding to southbound Faith Home Road to westbound Service Road at speeds of over 80 mph. Officer Matthew Myers deployed stop sticks at  The chase ended with a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver performed on the pickup at Service and Crows Landing roads. Knudsen bailed on foot but Air 101 crew were able to maintain sight of him and guided officers to where he was hiding. Knudsen was arrested without incident. 

A pump-action .22-caliber rifle was located in the bed of the Chevrolet pickup. As he was being booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, jail staff located a small baggy containing suspected methamphetamine in his clothing. The action earned an additional charge of bringing a controlled substance into a jail.