Suspected truck thief leads Kings deputies on long chase, but arrest made in Corcoran

It was near midnight on February 15 that deputies spotted a white Ford F-150 pickup in the area of Kent Avenue and 17th Avenue and decided to stop it because of a mechanical violation. When officers approached the truck on foot, the driver, Morfin, suddenly sped away.

Deputies pursued the truck as Ramiro fled at a high rate of speed, during the chase he drove into the oncoming lane of traffic. The pursuit continued south on paved roads, dirt roads, and along canal banks. At one point, a deputy sheriff deployed spike strips in an attempt to disable the truck, but Ramiro avoided the spikes.

As the pursuit continued, Ramiro headed toward the Corcoran. A California Highway Patrol helicopter assisted in the pursuit and was able to track the truck as it fled to Corcoran. The suspect, Ramiro, drove into a dirt field, preventing the deputies from following. The helicopter tracked Ramiro and notified deputies that the truck had driven through a backyard fence in the 2700 Block of Olympic Ave. Ramiro abandoned the truck and fled on foot, running through several backyards.

Deputies spotted the suspect exiting from a side gate of a nearby home. Ramiro ran through the front yard and toward another house where he jumped the side gate and entered into the back yard. When deputies jumped the gate, they saw that Ramiro had fallen.

Deputies ordered Ramiro to stay on the ground, but instead, Ramiro ignored the commands and stood up. Officers took Ramiro to the ground, where he continued to resist. Deputies eventually handcuffed Ramiro and took him into custody. Deputies also found a folding pocketknife.

Deputies determined that the Ford F-150 had been stolen from a business in the Porterville area. Ramiro also had three outstanding warrants for his arrest.

Deputies booked the suspect into Kings County, where his bail is currently $220,000.