Wild police chase: Man leads authorities through multiple cities, orchard, summer camp, river

On Tuesday, a 44-year-old California man led authorities on a chase that traversed both land and sea, crossed multiple cities, one orchard, a summer camp and the San Joaquin River. It ended in the jaws of a K-9 officer.

The chase began with an alleged home burglary in Del Rey, Calif., according to a statement from authorities. The victims identified Efrain Martinez, a man they knew, as the suspect. The victims alerted deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff's Department that Martinez was driving around the area.

Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Martinez, but the Parlier man refused to pull over. Some motorists reported he was holding a gun.

Authorities said Martinez then took off down Highway 99 and drove into downtown Fresno, where several deputies attempted to stop him with their patrol cars. They fired a round of bean bags from a shotgun in an attempt to break Martinez's window, and shot a pepper-spray projectile into his vehicle.

"However, Martinez was unfazed," the sheriff's department said in the statement.

Fresno authorities arrested Efrain Martinez, 44, of Parlier, after he attempted to evade police by rolling his car into the San Joaquin River and stealing a canoe. Fresno authorities arrested Efrain Martinez, 44, of Parlier, after he attempted to evade police by rolling his car into the San Joaquin River and stealing a canoe. Photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Department Photo: Fresno County Sheriff's Department Image 1 of / 4 Caption Close Wild police chase: Man leads authorities through multiple cities, orchard, summer camp, river 1 / 4 Back to Gallery

Martinez escaped by ramming into several civilian vehicles, authorities said, and headed north on Highway 99, exiting in Madero County and driving through an orchard off Road 39. He continued onto a bluff of the San Joaquin River, and because the dirt on the edge is soft, Martinez's vehicle rolled down the embankment and into the river.

The journey became water-bound at this point, as Martinez ejected himself from the vehicle and swam across the river toward Scout Island, where authorities said about 100 elementary school-age students were attending day camp. The camp was placed on lockdown, under the assumption Martinez carried a weapon.

When a California Highway Patrol helicopter, H40, arrived to assist deputies, Martinez was spotted in the water, attempting to take a canoe downstream. The pilot of a second helicopter, the EAGLE One, hovered over Martinez and created a current, to prevent him from climbing into the canoe.

With his last ounce of energy, authorities said Martinez swam to shore and ran into the bushes, where a Fresno K-9 officer found him and bit him, enabling deputies to conduct an arrest, one-and-a-half hours after the pursuit began.

Martinez was transported to the hospital for treatment of the bites and booked into Fresno County Jail on felony counts of burglary, evading police, resisting arrest and harming a K-9 officer. Bail is set at $75,000.

Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com.

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