Two men, Faustino Vera, 31, and Joseph Brown, 26, both of Modesto, were arrested Thursday evening after crashing a stolen car during a police pursuit in Ceres. The incident unfolded around 10:26 p.m. when Ceres Police were alerted to a stolen 2000 Honda Civic in the vicinity of Hatch and Mitchell roads.
Officer Charles Lord-Huff spotted the stolen vehicle near Hatch Road and Santa Fe Avenue and initiated a traffic stop. However, the driver, later identified as Vera, sped off, prompting a high-speed pursuit through rural county roads east of Ceres.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office helicopter unit assisted in tracking the vehicle from the air, while a Stanislaus County Deputy successfully deployed stop sticks, causing the car’s tires to deflate and slowing it down.
The pursuit ended when Officer Eric Souza executed a PIT maneuver, disabling the vehicle. Vera surrendered immediately, but Brown fled on foot into a dark area. Officer Kevin Gallenkamp and his canine partner, Fiona, successfully apprehended Brown shortly after.
During the search of the stolen vehicle, police discovered a fully loaded AR-15 rifle. Both suspects were found to have multiple felony warrants and were booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on several charges.
Vera faces charges including evading a police officer, vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, possession of an assault weapon, and several felony warrants. Brown is charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, ammunition, and an assault weapon, along with vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest, and multiple felony warrants.