Fresno gang member found driving car stolen from nightclub lot

A Bulldog gang member was found driving a car stolen from a parking lot near a downtown Fresno nightclub early Sunday morning, Fresno police said.

Sgt. James Fowler said officers were patrolling near Club Mezcal on Van Ness Avenue near Tuolumne Street when they saw a car driving without headlights. When the driver ran a red light, police pulled the car over.

Fowler said the driver, Alex Jimenez, 26, showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol, and a check of the registration revealed that Jimenez wasn’t the owner of the car. Officers determined that Jimenez took the keys from someone’s purse inside Club Mezcal.

Jimenez was booked into Fresno County Jail for driving a stolen vehicle and driving while intoxicated. He was released on bond at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

This story was originally published July 5, 2015 at 7:08 PM with the headline "Fresno gang member found driving car stolen from nightclub lot."