Multi-county crime spree leads to high-speed chase and multiple people in custody

KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- A crime spree in the south valley ended with a high-speed chase and four people taken into custody.

Security camera video shows the moments Hanford police are chasing a suspect in a stolen vehicle, seconds later, that vehicle crashes into a fence in a Hanford neighborhood.

Police officers arrested 18-year-old Michael Ortiz, 20-year-old Esteban Santana and one juvenile.

The two men, suspected of being involved in multiple crimes, in Tulare and Kings County, including a carjacking and armed robberies.

"They had numerous targets and there could have been more if we had not arrested them," explains Brian Johnson, Public Information Officer for the City of Hanford.

Investigators say the multi-county crime spree began in Porterville early Wednesday morning, where a carjacking occurred.

Two armed robberies followed, one at 7/11 on South Mooney Boulevard in Visalia, the other at AM/PM in Lemoore.

By this time, the Hanford police officers were on alert for the suspects' vehicle, and through the city's surveillance systems and help from the Kings County Sheriff's Department's air support, officers were able to track down the suspects' car.

"They pre-positioned themselves accordingly and sure enough they did come back to Hanford and that's when we initiated a traffic stop and pursuit," says Johnson.

The pursuit ended when the suspects drove into the fence of a home at the end of a cul-de-sac.

Investigators say one juvenile took off and was arrested the next day in Porterville.

The other three were detained on scene.

"Along with the arrest, our officers recovered two guns believed to have been used in these crimes," mentions Johnson.

Ortiz and Santana are each charged with carjacking, three counts of second-degree robbery and three counts of assault with a firearm, including some enhancements and special allegations.

Ortiz has a prior conviction for carjacking.

If convicted of all charges, Santana could face 44 years to life in prison and Ortiz could face 68 years to life in prison.

The men were brought here to the Kings County jail, but the Tulare County District Attorney's Office will be taking over the criminal case.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact all police departments involved, including the Porterville, Hanford and Visalia Police Departments.

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