Three arrested after early-morning car chase in Clovis

Three people were arrested – one wearing body armor – after a short car chase from Clovis to Fresno early Saturday morning, the Clovis Police Department said.

Officers were patrolling the area of Minnewawa and Shaw avenues just after 1 a.m. when they spotted a Mustang convertible. A check of the vehicle showed that it was stolen.

Police attempted to stop the Mustang but it sped away into Fresno, police said. The driver took the car onto Highway 41, and after 11 minutes, the chase ended when the driver tried to make a U-turn but ended up on a raised curb on Avenue 12 east of Highway 41.

All three occupants surrendered without incident.

The driver, Isaac Zepeda, 26, was wearing Kevlar soft body armor and carrying a loaded handgun in his waistband, police said. Zepeda was on parole and the gun had been reported stolen in 2012.

Victor Mata, 36, and Julie Bascue, 36, were also arrested.

Officers located a bag along the path of the chase that contained handgun ammunition and identification belonging to Mata, police said. Officers said they think a second handgun was thrown from the vehicle and are still looking for it.

Zepeda was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle; being a felon in possession of a handgun, ammunition and body armor; possession of a stolen handgun; felonious evading in a vehicle; possession of narcotics paraphernalia; possession of burglary tools; and an outstanding warrant for parole violation. Mata and Bascue were arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle.

This story was originally published January 30, 2016 at 9:20 PM with the headline "Three arrested after early-morning car chase in Clovis."