Two young men from Modesto were arrested early Tuesday, Sept. 16 after they fled in a stolen car from a pursing Ceres Police officer.

The incident tied up resources of at least two police agencies.

At approximately 2 a.m., Officer Charles Lord-Huff heard a broadcast regarding a stolen green 1993 Honda Accord. A short time later, Officer Lord-Huff spotted the car traveling at a high rate of speed and attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the driver led officers on a short pursuit through Ceres.

During the pursuit, Officer Lord-Huff saw two guns tossed from a window which were quickly recovered by other officers.

The pursuit ended when the suspect turned down a dead-end street, stopped the car and fled on foot. The passenger remained in the car and was arrested while the driver jumped multiple yard fences. 

A perimeter was set up with the help of Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies with the air unit searching from the sky.

With the assistance of canine Onyx and a coordinated team, a thorough yard-to-yard search led to the apprehension of the suspect without further incident.

Jesus Vega, 20, of Modesto was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of auto theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm and carrying a loaded firearm in public..

A 17-year-old male, whose name was not released, was arrested and booked into Stanislaus County Juvenile Hall on charges of auto theft, possession of a controlled substance, probation violation, providing a false name to officers, carrying a loaded firearm in public, evading police in a vehicle, smuggling a controlled substance into a jail facility, possession of burglary tools, possession of a stolen vehicle and a felony arrest warrant.