Wild fracas: Deputies grapple with driver after pursuit through Fig Garden in Fresno

A Los Angeles man has been booked into Fresno County Jail after a high-speed chase through Fig Garden that ended with a fight with deputies, said Fresno County Sheriff’s spokesman spokesman Tony Botti on Wednesday.

Edward Steel, 39, faces charges of interfering with an officer after the scuffle Tuesday evening at Gettysburg and Blackstone avenues.

Botti said the incident began when Steel, in a white Nissan, made a wide turn at Palm and Gettysburg and nearly struck two deputies making a traffic stop on another car. Steel allegedly sped east on Gettysburg, reaching 80 mph as he ran stop signs in Fig Garden, pursued by deputies. At Blackstone, Botti said, Steel caused a four-car crash.

Deputies ordered Steel out of his car, but he refused, and that led to a wresting match as the they tried to pull him out. One deputy hit the ground during the fracas, striking the back of his head on the pavement, Botti said. Steel allegedly tried to remove a baton from another deputy’s belt, before citizens jumped in to help subdue him.

Botti said deputies took a blood sample from Steel to determine if he was under the influence of drugs, but the results were not available Wednesday.