Man smashes into 5 cars in hardware store parking lot, leads police on chase

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno police say it was a bizarre scene Sunday afternoon after a man hit several vehicles in a parking lot. Sunday night that man is in jail after also leading police on a small chase.

John Melikian works at Fresno Ag in Northeast Fresno -- he took this photo of the man he says smashed into several vehicles after trying to steal two items from his store.

"As he was leaving I kinda noticed something a little weird and I followed him out more," Melikian said.

That is when he watched the suspect peel out erratically but the man who police have identified as 32-year-old Francisco Vega, kept going, crashing into four parked cars and an SUV with an attached trailer.

Within minutes, police showed up and chased Vega in this damaged red car to a gas station across the street. Authorities believe he was under the influence and say it took five officers to hold him down.

"He had to put a spit mask on he was spitting at us kicking at us threatening to kill us so pretty sure he was under the influence of meth," of the Fresno Police Department said.

Witnesses nearby were stunned -- Vega is just glad no one was injured during it all.