Authorities on Friday arrested a man after a chase for allegedly stealing a 30-pack of beer and trying to stab the victim.

Deputies were sent at about 4 p.m. to a business in the 19500 block of Road 196 in Strathmore to investigate a fight in progress with weapons involved. The name of the business was not released.

When deputies arrived, Johnny Hernandez Jr. of Exeter fled the scene on foot, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department reports.
Hernandez was caught after a short foot chase. His age was not released.

After the speaking with the victim, deputies found that Hernandez had taken a 30-pack of Budweiser beer without paying, which was recovered by the victim prior to the arrival of deputies.

Hernandez then returned to the business and allegedly tried to stab the victim with a pocket knife while threatening to stab him, the Sheriff’s Department reports.

The victim’s name was not released.

During the incident, the 30-pack of Budweiser was reportedly stolen by a different, unknown suspect. The loss was estimated at about $20.
Hernandez was booked at the Porterville substation on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, criminal threats, burglary, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.

-- Contact Jeff Stowe at 784-5000, Ext. 1046, or jstowe@portervillerecorder.com.