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Law enforcement agencies from Tulare, Kings, Hanford, CHP in chase and tense standoff
The chase began at about 1:30 p.m. when Tulare County Sheriff’s Office pursued a black Ford Fiesta into Hanford. The Hanford Police Department and Tulare County deputies tried to apprehend Adan Hernandez's suspect in the Hanford Burger King parking lot. Hernandez accelerated his vehicle, knocking a Tulare County deputy to the ground as he attempted to pull Hernandez's suspect from the car.
The Hanford Police Department, while pursing Hernandez, watched as he eventually came to a stop at the corner of Shepard Drive and Hume Avenue in Hanford. Hanford officers communicated with the suspect and urged him to surrender. The suspect refused and drove away.
Hanford police officers continued following Hernandez, and after a short distance, the suspect stopped and backed his Ford into an occupied Hanford patrol unit, causing damage to the unit. Hernandez put the Ford back into drive and continued to flee.
Local officers pursued Hernandez into the County of Kings, where the Kings County Sheriff’s Office took over the pursuit.
The chase continued south toward the City of Corcoran as the fleeing suspect reached speeds above 70 miles per hour and failed to stop for numerous stop signs along the way. A Kings County deputy successfully deployed Stop Sticks, tools meant to deflate tires, which were successful in deflating one of the vehicle's tires.
However, Hernandez continued to flee and drove south on State Route 43 toward Corcoran.
The suspect entered Corcoran, where a California Highway Patrol officer deployed Stop Sticks, deflating the other three tires on the Ford. Despite having all four tires flat, Adan refused to stop. He drove through downtown Corcoran on the vehicle’s rims, made his way back to State Route 43, and drove north.
On State Route 43 between Whitley Avenue and Orange Avenue, he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the west side of the road into a dirt field.
Hernandez remained in the car, and Kings County Sheriff’s officers attempted to communicate with him over the public address system on the patrol unit. Hernandez refused to communicate or surrender. Kings County SWAT, along with the Crisis Resolution Team, was called to the scene. Law enforcement officials made numerous phone calls to the suspect’s cell phone, and a deputy placed a KCSO cell phone near him, but he refused to answer either cell phone.
Despite the best efforts from the Crisis Resolution Team to de-escalate the incident, Hernandez refused to communicate or respond to any commands. The standoff continued for approximately two hours. During the standstill, Officers saw the suspect smoking what they believed to be Methamphetamine.
The Kings County SWAT team deployed chemical agents which forced Hernandez to exit the vehicle. Hernandez refused to give up, and he fled on foot toward an open field. Kings County K-9 Officer Bluz was deployed to apprehend the fleeing suspect. Hernandez fought with K-9 and appeared to try to gouge out the dog’s eyes.
At that point, officers fired a less-lethal round, striking Hernandez in the leg. After a short struggle, members of the SWAT team took Hernandez into custody.
Hernandez was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Upon his release, he was booked into the Kings County Jail. Charges included assault with a deadly weapon, evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, fleeing while driving the wrong way, felony resisting arrest, willfully attempting to harm a dog, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Adan’s bail was set at $155,000.
According to those agencies involved in the pursuit, no law enforcement personnel include the K-9 Bluz, were injured during the incident.
