He was allegedly DUI and ran a woman off the road. And he walked out of Fresno jail

A Kingsburg man who allegedly cussed out a deputy and ran a woman off the road while driving under the influence was let out of jail Monday without paying bail, according to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s spokesman Tony Botti said bail for the charges against the man would normally be set at $120,000, but the man qualified for $0 bail under California’s rules intent on reducing county jail populations during the coronavirus pandemic.

In response, the Judicial Council of California issued a statement Tuesday:

“$0 bail does not apply to people accused of driving under the influence. The statewide emergency bail schedule sets presumptive bail at $0 for those accused of misdemeanors and non-violent felonies to safely reduce jail populations during a public health crisis.

“It is also not a blanket release order: the emergency bail schedule allows law enforcement to seek increased bail for those who pose a risk to the public. We encourage law enforcement to seek enhancements as appropriate to protect the safety and health of the public and those involved in the justice system.”

Botti described the wild chain of events that started Memorial Day afternoon:

A deputy patrolling the area of Smith and Adams avenues near Parlier saw John Mathison, 41, speeding in a black Chevrolet Impala. The deputy pulled him over.

After approaching the driver’s door the deputy realized Mathison was drunk and ordered him out of the car. Instead, Mathison began to cuss the deputy, all while taking sips from a beer.

Mathison then drove off, reaching speeds of 100 mph as he headed south on Lac Jac Avenue out of the deputy’s sight.

The deputy broke off the chase for safety reasons but continued driving in the direction Mathison was headed. Soon he came upon a wreck: the Impala and a woman’s car were both smashed in an orchard.

The woman was pinned inside her car and suffered injuries to her legs. Before she was taken to a hospital by ambulance, she told investigators Mathison passed her and as he was cutting back into her lane, he clipped the front of her car, causing it to spin off the road.

Mathison was not badly hurt and was arrested. He faces charges of DUI, evading police and crashing his vehicle resulting in the injury of another person.

Botti said Mathison was booked about 5 p.m.; jail records show he walked out at 8:34 p.m.

This story was originally published May 25, 2020 at 10:40 PM.