Short pursuit leads to arrest

A 23-year-old Porterville man was arrested early Tuesday morning after he fled from Porterville Police officers checking on a possible 15-year-old girl who had been reported as a runaway.

Gerardo Rivas was arrested after 1:30 a.m. when he finally stopped in the 700 block of Village Green after leading police on a short chase through residential neighborhoods, the Porterville Police Department reported.

The incident began at 1:35 a.m. Tuesday when police were called to the 700 block of West Morton regarding a possible location of a 15-year-old female runaway. The female was reported leaving her residence with Rivas in his white 2002 GMC Sierra.

Rivas’ vehicle was located at a motel where the 15-year-old female was located. The room was searched for Rivas; however, he was not located. Officers later determined that someone had climbed out the bathroom window of the room and fled. The 15-year-old female was turned over to her mother who responded to the scene, police said.

A short time later, Rivas was seen leaving the motel parking lot in his vehicle. An officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. Rivas yielded after a short chase. He was taken into custody without incident and arrested on suspicion felony evading, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and violation of parole, police said.