Welfare check, foot chase leads to two arrests

Two men are behind bars after leading police on a brief foot chase Wednesday.

The incident happened at approximately 2:40 p.m. Wednesday in the sub-100 block of South A Street. Dominic Barteau, spokesperson for the Porterville Police Department, said officers responded to the area to check on the welfare of an infant.

“Somebody called and said it wasn’t a healthy environment for the baby to be in,” Barteau said, adding that the infant was with a woman who was wanted for a warrant.

While officers were en route, they learned a wanted parolee was on the run near a residence in the area.

When officers arrived on scene, two men fled on foot, one of whom matched the description of the wanted parolee, Barteau said.

One of the suspects, identified as 19-year-old Robert Garcia, was caught almost immediately and had a felony warrant for possession of methamphetamine.

Police set up a perimeter to apprehend the second suspect, identified as 54-year-old Ruben Hernandez. Hernandez was found hiding and was indeed, the wanted parolee, Barteau said.

Both were booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Porterville Substation.
Officers did not find the woman or infant.