Kings County deputies arrest suspect who fled scene in vehicle and crashed

The deputy contacted the driver and his female passenger. The driver told the deputy that he did not have his driver's license with him, and instead, he provided a false name. He gave the deputy his brother’s name. The deputy determined the driver's true identity, identifying him as Antonio Zavala.

As the deputy spoke with Zavala, the suspect suddenly started the car and sped away. As the suspect drove away the female passenger was heard telling him not to drive off.

Deputies pursued Zavala as he drove recklessly at speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour and at times drove into oncoming traffic, forcing a vehicle off the road in order to avoid a head-on collision.

As the pursuit continued, Zavala approached the intersection of Kent and State Route 41 at approximately 90 miles per hour. This intersection elevates, and as he drove through the intersection, his vehicle launched 5-10 feet into the air.

Deputies briefly lost sight of the vehicle due to the elevated area, but after they proceeded through the intersection, they spotted the vehicle stuck in a field. Zavala was seen fleeing from the vehicle.

Deputies ran after the suspect and took him into custody. The female was still in the vehicle and sustained minor injuries from the crash. The vehicle had major frontend damage and the airbags had deployed.

During the passenger’s interview she told investigators that she pleaded with Zavala to drop her off several times during the pursuit, but he refused. She later received treatment at a nearby hospital.

Zavala admitted he drove from the deputies because he had an outstanding warrant out of Fresno County. The suspect also had a no-bail warrant for stalking. deputies booked Zavala into the Kings County Jail for the warrant, evading law enforcement, false impersonation of a real person, false imprisonment, and kidnapping.  His bail was set at $255,000.