A 21-year-old Oakland man led Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed pursuit through Modesto, escaped officers and then fled a second police vehicle, authorities said. He then was arrested when a police dog found him hiding in a backyard.
Ricardo Villalvazo was booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on suspicion of evading law enforcement, driving into oncoming traffic and obstructing officers, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident began about 11 p.m. July 21 when a deputy spotted a black sedan illegally parked in a no-parking area at Johansen High School, 651 Norseman Drive, the Sheriff’s Office said.
As the deputy tried to position the patrol vehicle behind the sedan, the driver sped away, authorities said. The deputy attempted a traffic stop, but the driver — later identified as Villalvazo — allegedly refused to pull over.
Villalvazo reached speeds of about 85 mph, ran red lights and drove into oncoming traffic during the pursuit, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies eventually lost sight of the sedan and terminated the pursuit because of the dangerous driving. The Sheriff’s Office’s drone unit and air support then joined the search.
Investigators later received information from a family member who identified Villalvazo as the person who had been driving the sedan, authorities said.
That family member subsequently found Villalvazo and allowed him into her vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A deputy operating a drone saw Villalvazo get into the vehicle.
Deputies attempted another traffic stop near the 300 block of Locust Street, but the vehicle did not stop, authorities said. Deputies deployed spike strips, which struck the vehicle’s tires and eventually brought it to a stop.
Villalvazo then got out and ran, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
A drone tracked him into the backyard of a home in the 100 block of Emerald Avenue, where authorities said he attempted to hide.
Sheriff’s K9 Dante was deployed and apprehended Villalvazo, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Villalvazo was taken to a hospital for treatment. He was medicalley cleared before being booked into jail.
Anyone with information about the case can contact the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office at 209-525-7117 or Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 1-866-60-CRIME.