2 booked after deputy crashes into house during pursuit

A Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy is recovering and two people were in custody early Friday after the deputy crashed his vehicle into a home in central Fresno during a pursuit.

The incident began about 1:30 a.m., according to sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti, who said the deputy saw a speeding driver run a stop sign near Santa Ana and Maroa avenues. The deputy, who was not identified, attempted to stop the driver, who sped away. The deputy followed, but lost control of his vehicle in the 4400 block of North Tielman Avenue.

Botti said it appeared that the traction control system on the vehicle kicked in on rain-dampened streets and the vehicle drove straight into the side of the house. No one in the home was injured.

Pursuit of the car, reportedly driven by Steven Martinez, 29, continued into central Fresno as other deputies responded, and Martinez was taken into custody after he was bitten by a sheriff’s dog while resisting arrest, according to Botti.

Martinez was on probation for a drug violation and he was booked on a probation violation, felony evading, and resisting arrest. A passenger in Martinez’s car, Angeline Leon, 22, was also booked on a probation violation.

The deputy, who experienced pain after the crash, went to an area hospital.

Botti said the county’s risk management unit was involved in assessing damage to the home.

This story was originally published November 23, 2018 at 10:03 AM.