SELMA, CA — A man was arrested Thursday night after a car chase ended in a Fresno County canal near Selma.
The incident began shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 29 when California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers spotted a vehicle weaving between lanes on Highway 41, north of O Street. When officers tried to stop the driver for reckless driving, he fled, starting a chase.
The pursuit moved from Highway 41 to Highway 99 before continuing onto local roads in the Selma area. During the chase, the suspect drove toward a patrol car.
To end the chase, an officer used a "PIT maneuver." This is a tactic where a patrol car bumps the back of a fleeing vehicle to make it spin and stop. Following the maneuver, the vehicle ended up in a canal at the intersection of Fowler and Rose avenues.
According to reporting from YourCentralValley.com, the driver spent about ten minutes trying to drive the car out of the water. When the vehicle remained stuck, he finally got out and ran away. CHP officers and Fresno County sheriff's deputies chased the suspect on foot and took him into custody shortly after.
After the arrest, investigators found that the car had been reported stolen earlier that day. Officers also suspect the man was driving under the influence. He now faces several charges, including driving a stolen car and DUI.
Authorities did not release the name of the driver following the arrest.
