At about 8:02am Wednesday, Turlock Police Officer Silva attempted to make a traffic stop in the 2800 block of Countryside Drive.
Silva had spotted Robert Hernandez, 39, of Turlock, driving a vehicle and recognized him from a recent be-on-the-lookout bulletin.
Hernandez had $361,000 worth of felony and misdemeanor bench warrants out of Turlock, Merced County, and Livingston for charges including fleeing from a peace officer by vehicle with disregard for public safety, attempting to deter or resist an executive officer in the performance of their duty by means of threat or violence, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded and operable firearm, possession of more than 28.5 grams of cannabis or eight grams of concentrated cannabis, concealing or destroying evidence, driving without a valid license, and failing to stop for a stop sign.
He was also on post release community supervision for possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded and operable firearm, fleeing from a peace officer by vehicle with disregard for public safety, and possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a violent felony.
Instead of stopping for Silva, Hernandez took off at a high rate of speed southbound on State Route 99 from W. Monte Vista Avenue and a pursuit was initiated.
The pursuit only lasted about two minutes, ending when Hernandez took the W. Main Street exit, went eastbound, and crashed into a bystander’s vehicle at the northbound State Route 99 intersection.
The vehicle that Hernandez had struck had two occupants, neither of which were injured, and both of which were able to be safely removed from the scene.
A high-risk stop was conducted where both Hernandez and his passenger, later identified as Athea Gonzalez, 35, of Turlock, were ordered out of the vehicle at gunpoint. Gonzalez complied and was detained without incident, however, Hernandez refused and stayed in his vehicle for nearly half an hour.
When officers had their dispatcher run Gonzalez, they discovered that she was on searchable probation for possession of a controlled substance or paraphernalia for such in a jail or prison and burglary.
Eventually, Hernandez started to comply and was also detained.
During a subsequent search, officers located a 9mm Glock 19 that had been reported stolen out of Merced County, ammunition, and methamphetamines for sale.
Officers called the on-call deputy probation officer and informed them of what had occurred. They determined there was probable cause a violation of PRCS had occurred and authorized Hernandez be placed on a 10-day flash hold.
Both Hernandez and Gonzalez were injured as a result of the collision and had to be checked out at the scene by Turlock Fire and American Medical Response. They were then transported to a local hospital for medical clearance.
Afterward, Hernandez and Gonzalez were both arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, Hernandez on charges of fleeing from a peace officer by vehicle with disregard for public safety, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or person addicted to a narcotic, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, possession of methamphetamines for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded and operable firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, committing a felony while on bail or release, violation of probation, and violation of post release community supervision, as well as his warrants, and Gonzalez on charges of carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded and operable firearm, and possession of methamphetamines for sale.
