Three men who allegedly participated in an organized theft at the new Walmart Supercenter were arrested Sunday evening after police chased them to a Modesto park.

At 6:27 p.m., Officer Kao Saechao was patrolling the Walmart Supercenter parking lot when dispatchers sent out a call about shoplifting in progress at the same store. The suspects were getting into a white Toyota Corolla and leaving when Officer Saechao got behind them and tried to stop them by activating his emergency lights and siren. The driver of the Toyota, Victor Chavez, 29, of Livingston, led officers on a high-speed pursuit throughout Ceres and into Modesto. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s helicopter unit was able to tract the suspects as they continued to East La Loma Park where they stopped.

Chavez hid after running from the vehicle to hide while the two other suspects, Austin Keeney, 30, and Keaton Vankonynenburg, 31, both of Modesto, were arrested near the vehicle.

Chavez was found hiding in foliage a short distance away. 

All three were arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for organizing a retail theft.

Chavez faces another organized retail theft.

Keeney and Vankonynenburg were each also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and a probation violation.