Man crashed stolen car during police chase, officers say

A short vehicle chase ended early Tuesday in Atwater when a man with gang ties crashed a stolen vehicle into a telephone pole, the Atwater Police Department reported.

Huriel Cervantes, 24, ran from the wrecked vehicle and struggled with the officers after they caught up with him, Lt. Samuel Joseph said.

Police spotted a red 1999 Honda Civic just before 1 a.m. traveling west on East Bellevue Road. The vehicle matched the description of one that had been reported a few hours earlier in the 3000 block of Secretariat Drive. Witnesses told police the vehicle had been parked on Secretariat for several days, police said.

Officers investigated the license plate number and learned the vehicle had been reported stolen Halloween night in Atwater, officers said.

When officers spotted the vehicle early Tuesday, they attempted to have the driver pull over, but the driver turned off the vehicle’s lights and accelerated away, police said.

A short chase ensued in the area of Buhach Road and East Bellevue Road, a heavily traveled part of town with several convenience stores, gasoline stations and other businesses. Officers chased the vehicle down East Bellevue, past several homes. The chase reached speeds of 80 mph or greater before turning onto Determine Drive, where the car crashed into the pole, police said.

The driver, later identified by police as Cervantes, fled on foot and was captured trying to climb over a fence. He was taken into custody after a short struggle with officers, police said.

Police described Cervantes as an “associate” of a local street gang.

He was booked into the Merced County jail on suspicion of evading police, possession of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, resisting arrest, and driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license. He remained in custody Tuesday evening.

This story was originally published November 3, 2015 at 7:22 PM with the headline "Man crashed stolen car during police chase, officers say."