Peggy Heller Elementary School in Atwater was briefly placed on lockdown Thursday, after a man wanted on suspicion of child molestation crashed into a fire hydrant near the school, police reported.
Christian Omar Castellanos, 20, of Atwater was taken into custody shortly before 9 a.m. after losing control of a black Volkswagen Jetta near Camelia Drive and Shaffer Road, according to Detective Armando Echevarria of the Atwater Police Department.
After the crash, Castellanos fled the scene on foot, but police found him 45 minutes later in the backyard of a home in the 200 block of Shoreline Drive.
Castellanos was wanted for allegedly molesting a 13-year-old girl in August, Echevarria said.
Police believe he crashed the car while trying to flee from an attempted auto burglary. Prior to the crash, Castellanos was seen removing electronic equipment and other items from a SUV in the 6500 block of Charles Court in Winston, Echevarria said.
The owner of the SUV, however, was the one who spotted Castellanos and confronted him. The witness reported that Castellanos got into the Jetta. Castellanos then drove his Jetta toward the witness, striking him. Fortunately, the owner of the SUV was not seriously injured, Echevarria said.
The victim followed Castellanos in his vehicle and the suspect crashed shortly after.
Castellanos was arrested on suspicion of of misdemeanor hit and run, driving without a license, child molestation, grand theft, possession of stolen property and aggravated assault with a car.
He was also booked on suspicion of stalking, in connection with an unrelated case.
The lockdown at the school was lifted after Castellanos was arrested, Echevarria said.
Reporter Victor A. Patton can be reached at (209) 385-2431 or vpatton@mercedsun-star.com.
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