CHP Press Release:
FRESNO, Calif. – Friday, at approximately 5:30 p.m., a Fresno Area California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer was dispatched to a traffic crash at Temperance Avenue at North Avenue in the county of Fresno. Upon arrival, the officer found the lanes to be blocked by the two involved vehicles and one person appeared to have sustained injuries. The officer immediately rushed to render aid to the suspected injured victim (Clayton Parker 6/25/1987) on the shoulder of the road near the marked Dodge Charger patrol vehicle.
After determining the injury to Parker was minor, the officer continued to check for addition victims. The officer left Parker’s location and spoke with other involved parties on the opposite side of the road. As the officer was attending the other involved parties, Parker entered the patrol car and fled the scene in the now stolen patrol car.
Parker drove from the scene with the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights still activated. The officer was able to notify the Fresno CHP Communication Center of the patrol car being taken and the direction of travel. A Good Samaritan stopped and offered to assist the officer and provided him transportation with the intent to follow the now stolen patrol car.
Additional patrol units quickly arrived and intercepted the stolen patrol vehicle near Belmont Avenue at Armstrong Avenue and a short pursuit ensued reaching speeds near 75 mph. The pursuit safely terminated on Peach Avenue over State Route 180, and Parker was taken into custody without incident.
Parker was arrested and will be booked into Fresno County Jail on charges of felony evading, felony auto theft, driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving with a suspended driver license and violation of parole conditions.
