Short pursuit leads to three arrests

Police arrested Kurt Harden, 19 of Springville, Timothy Epps, 19 of Terra Bella, and a 15-year-old juvenile Saturday after the three attempted to evade police for an alleged theft, the Porterville Police Department reports.  

Just before noon, police responded to 940 W. Henderson Ave. for reports of a theft that had just occurred. It was reported that one of the suspects entered the business minutes prior to the theft, checked out merchandise and then left. The suspects returned minutes later and began removing sensors from the merchandise, police report. The suspects then exited the business with the merchandise and fled the scene in a vehicle.

Officers later saw the vehicle in the area of Henderson Avenue and Prospect Street, and attempted to stop on the car.

The driver accelerated after turning the car southbound on Prospect Street and led officers on a brief pursuit.

The pursuit came to an end in the rural area of Tulare County, after the vehicle struck a fence.

The suspects reportedly exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but were soon located and the stolen merchandise recovered.

Harden and Epps were booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department for felony evading, on suspicion of burglary and conspiracy.

The juvenile was booked at the Juvenile Detention Facility.