1 arrested, 2 escape after Atwater police chase

One man was arrested early Monday, and two others escaped after a short vehicle chase in Atwater, according to the Police Department.

Antonio D. Ayala, 19, of Livingston is believed to have been a passenger in a stolen silver Acura that briefly fled from Atwater police, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Officers tried to stop the vehicle about 1:15 a.m. in the 2600 block of Shaffer Road, but the car did not yield, officers said.

The vehicle stopped a short time later on Shaffer and two people ran, police said.

Ayala, whom police described as a known gang member, remained in the vehicle, which had recently been reported stolen out of Merced, officers said.

He was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Facility on suspicion of possession of stolen property. His bail was set at $20,000, according to booking records.

Joseph said police are continuing to search for the two people who ran from the vehicle. They were described by police only as Latino males with possible gang ties.

This story was originally published March 16, 2015 at 10:09 AM with the headline "1 arrested, 2 escape after Atwater police chase."