Suspects stole hemp plants thinking it was weed, led deputies on 100 MPH chase
PHOTOS: Kings County Sheriff
Three men have been arrested on suspicion of stealing hemp from an industrial hemp field and leading deputies on a 100+ MPH chase in rural Kings County earlier this week.
Deputies responded to a rural area south of Lemoore at around 1:30 AM this past Tuesday, October 29, and caught up with the suspects’ red Chevy pickup as it traveled northbound on 17th Avenue near Kansas Avenue.
Despite attempts to stop the pickup, the chase reached speeds exceeding 100 MPH until, finally, the pickup stopped near an orchard on the 1300 block of Kent Avenue. At that point, the three suspects bailed out on foot.
Deputies established a perimeter, with a CHP helicopter, Kings County K9 officer, and Hanford PD officers assisting. All three suspects were soon located and arrested.
They have been identified as Jose Torres (36), Jesus Alvarado (37), and Javier Martinez (27).
At one point, Martinez resisted arrest and had to be subdued with the help of the Sheriff’s K9, during which he kicked the dog in the head multiple times. Fortunately, the K9 was not seriously injured.
The 33 stolen hemp plants, which were stolen because the suspects thought they were marijuana plants, were returned to the owner.
