MADERA COUNTY, Calif. (KMJ/KFSN) – Four men are in custody after deputies say they tried to steal thousands of dollars worth of bikes from an Oakhurst business.
The Madera County Sheriff’s Office says an alarm went off at Pedal Forward Bikes and Adventure just before 5 a.m. Sunday. The shop is on Highway 41 near Hartwell Road.
The Sheriff’s Office says the alarm company reported two men with their faces covered stealing bicycles and loading them into a white van.
Deputies soon spotted the van, which led them on an 11-mile chase before driving over spike strips put out by a deputy.
The van then crashed into an embankment near the Madera Canal, south of Avenue 15.
Four suspects fled the van and ran in separate directions.
As additional Deputies arrived to the area, they quickly apprehended and arrested three of the suspects, later identified as 62-year-old Orlan Doser, 58-year-old Earwin McCullar, and 57-year-old Manuel Tejeda, all out of Fresno.
After booking the first three suspects, a deputy located the fourth and last outstanding suspect, identified as 27 year old Isaac Alvarez out of Fresno.
Deputies recovered 8 bicycles inside the van that were confirmed stolen from Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure and returned them to the shop.
The bicycles were valued at a combined total of over $20,000.
“This was a great collaborative team effort between Deputies from the East County Mountain and Valley divisions. I applaud our team’s efforts in resolving this incident safely and successfully.”
– Sheriff Tyson Pogue
Listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern.
