SAN BERNARDINO – Police arrested two San Bernardino men for multiple felonies after pursuing them on city streets early Thursday morning. Police later learned that the suspects, Johnny Arturo Martinez, 22, and Joseph Malo Fernandes, 21, had both been released in compliance state assembly bill 109 when the state prison system was required to release non-violent offenders in order to lower prisoner population.
Deputies learned that Fernandes was on active felony parole for grand theft auto. Martinez, who was wearing a GPS tracker device for monitored supervision, was on active felony parole for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Sheriff’s deputies, acting on a report of a vehicle burglary shortly before 3 a.m. in the 600 block of Rialto Ave., saw Fernandes driving a recently stolen green 1995 Saturn, a vehicle that fit the description provided to officers.
Fernandes began accelerating away from the patrol car, according to reports, heading toward the center of the city while deputies pursued them. Reportedly driving recklessly throughout the neighborhoods, the car continued eluding deputies through the northeast corner at Baseline Rd. and Waterman Ave., a main intersection. Speeds reached up to 80 miles an hour, according to deputies.
Eventually, the suspects led deputies to the on-ramp of the 215 freeway at which the deputies successfully used a pit maneuver, spinning the suspects’ car, safely concluding the pursuit.
There were no further incidents once the suspects were taken into custody, including no injuries to officers or to Fernandes and Martinez. Originally the two suspects had been described as Hispanic males.
San Bernardino Police officers responded to the end of the chase scene, assisting deputies by positively identifying the suspects as the same men that had been involved in several other car burglaries and thefts in their jurisdiction. Both men, charged with felony evading, possession of stolen property, felony no bail warrants and violation of parole, were booked at the Central Detention Center. Other charges are pending.
According to a release, it was noted that both men had been released by the state prison system as part of Gov. Brown’s Realignment Plan – Assembly Bill 109 – that offenders were either to be released or serve reduced sentences in county jails while being placed on local supervision through county probation.
