At about 11:14pm Tuesday night, Turlock Police responded to a weapon offense in progress at N. Johnson Road and E. Canal Drive, after 4-6 juveniles on dirt bikes had been seen possibly shooting a gun into the air.
A few minutes later, Officer Lupe located four matching dirt bikers at N. Olive Avenue and E. Hawkeye Avenue, where he attempted to stop them.
All four fled and eventually split off in different directions near N. Olive Avenue and E. Tuolumne Road. Lupe pursued the one that looked more like an adult than others.
The pursuit lasted about 24 minutes, heading out to Denair and back, only reaching speeds of about 50mph. The Modesto Police Department provided aerial support with their airplane.
Eventually, the dirt biker gave up and surrendered in the 200 block of Baylor Avenue. He was arrested and identified as Radford Franklin, 18, of Turlock.
Franklin had a valid driver’s license, but no motorcycle endorsement. He was determined to be the owner of the dirt bike, which ended up being impounded.
Officers went out to the area where the shots had allegedly been fired, but were unable to locate any evidence of it. It’s unlikely that it actually occurred.
At one point during the pursuit, a patrol vehicle sustained minor damage to its rear bumper, but was able to stay in the pursuit.
Franklin was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on charges of fleeing from a peace officer by vehicle with disregard for the safety of persons or property, fleeing from a peace officer by vehicle against traffic, failing to wear a safety helmet while riding a motorcycle, and driving an unregistered vehicle.
