Fresno man accused of evading police, drug possession

Deputies have booked 45 year old Ernie Rodriguez of Fresno into the Fresno County Jail. He faces charges related to evading police, possession of drugs (meth) and vehicle violations.

Around 1:30 am on Thursday, a sheriff’s deputy made a traffic stop on a car near Princeton and Second Street in Fresno. As the deputy approached the driver’s door, the man (Ernie Rodriguez) sped away. The deputy got into his patrol vehicle and pursued Rodriguez.

A few minutes later, Rodriguez struck the concrete median at Fresno and Floradora, flattening his tire and disabling his car. Rodriguez got out and ran. The deputy and a couple Fresno Police officers chased after him, eventually caught him and placed him under arrest.

A records check showed Rodriguez had escaped from the Cornell Corrections Facility in Oakland. He had been wanted since November 2020.”