FRESNO – Officers arrested a Clovis man after following him on a high-speed chase for 130 miles from Pinedale to Tracy early Monday morning.
The Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said that 20-year-old Ronald Castanon was arrested on charges of robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a stolen vehicle, evading police, carjacking and committing a crime while out on bail.
Castanon robbed the Arco gas station at 4149 N. Clovis Ave. on Sunday, October 4 at 1 am, authorities said. He allegedly pointed a gun at the clerk, demanded the cash and then left the store with the money.
Later that same day, around 9:30 am, Castanon robbed Yo Town Frozen Yogurt in Prather by pointing a gun at an employee and taking cash from the register, authorities said.
Deputies who were patrolling the Pinedale area spotted a car driven by Castanon early Monday, at around 12:45 am. They coordinated with Fresno police officers and a California Highway Patrol helicopter to make a traffic stop on the Chevy Impala, which was discovered to be stolen.
At around 3:15 am, Castanon “realized law enforcement was after him, so he began to evade officers,” according to the sheriff’s office. The suspect led the deputy following him onto northbound Highway 99, at which point the deputy turned on his lights and sirens to try to pull Castanon over.
“He refused to stop and increased his speed to 120 mph, and then threw a gun out the window between the Shaw and Herndon exits, which officers later recovered,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Castanon eventually reached Interstate 5, and then Highway 580 south of Tracy, where his vehicle ran out of gas, authorities said. The suspect then abandoned his car on the highway and ran away on foot. Castanon tried to carjack two different drivers by grabbing hold of their door handles, but the drivers were able to safely drive way, authorities said.
Authorities were able to track the suspect to a gravel plant near Highway 580 and Bird Road in Tracy, where police dogs were deployed when he refused to surrender, authorities said.
“The dog bit Castanon, which allowed the deputy to take him into custody,” the sheriff’s office said.
Castanon was transported to San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp for treatment of his injuries. He was booked into jail once he was released, the sheriff’s office said.
