Gun found in car of suspect who crashed vehicle, ran from officer, Gustine police say

A suspect was arrested Monday after officers found a firearm in a vehicle that crashed following a pursuit in the Gustine area, police say.

Police said an officer on patrol in the area of South Avenue and Linden Avenue witnessed a vehicle driving eastbound on South Avenue at a high rate of speed at about 2 a.m. Monday, according to a Gustine Police Department Facebook post.

Police said the officer drove into position behind the vehicle to attempt a vehicle stop, when the vehicle continued to accelerate eastbound on Meredith Avenue at a high rate of speed.

The vehicle turned onto Sycamore Avenue and before the officer could activate his emergency lights for the stop, the officer witnessed the vehicle fail to halt at a stop sign at Sycamore Avenue and Meredith Avenue, before colliding into a light pole, according to police.

Following the crash, both the driver of the vehicle, identified as Jose Pantoja, 18, and an unidentified female passenger, fled the scene on foot, police said.

The female passenger ran westbound towards Laurel Avenue while the driver ran eastbound on Meredith Avenue toward West Avenue, according to the release.

Authorities said the officer pursued Pantoja on foot and captured him without further incident.

During an investigation, police discovered Pantoja was an unlicensed driver. During an inventory of the vehicle, the officer located an assault rifle with four loaded high capacity magazines. According to police, the assault rifle had no serial number.

Pantojo was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of assault weapon, possession of large capacity magazine along with misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and resisting.

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 9:49 AM.