Fresno neighbors catch hit-and-run suspect

FRESNO – Residents of a Fresno neighborhood rushed to an accident scene and detained a man they suspected of being involved in a hit-and-run.

The incident happened around 7 a.m. Tuesday, in a neighborhood on Olive Avenue near Willow. Police said the suspect was driving erratically in his SUV when he lost control, veered into the oncoming traffic lane, drove up over the sidewalk and then crashed into two cars parked at the curb.

Nearby residents heard the crash and rushed out of their homes to see what had happened, said CHP Sgt. Shawn Wills. They saw the wreckage from the crash and an injured man walking away from the scene.

The residents took matters into their own hands and chased him down, eventually tackling him to the ground. At that point, the suspect took out what appeared to be a firearm, Wills said, but was actually a BB gun.

The residents were able to restrain the man until authorities arrived.

In addition to being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, the suspect will also be charged with brandishing a weapon.

“He had a BB gun that looked like a real weapon and we are treating it as such,” Wills said.

Wills added that brandishing a weapon, even a fake weapon, as a source of intimidation is something the law takes very seriously.