2 men arrested after Christmas day high-speed chase, burglary attempt east of Clovis

Two Fresno men were arrested Christmas morning in connection with a home burglary — one suspect traveling more than 100 mph in his car while trying to elude deputies, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

A resident on the 7500 block of North Academy Avenue east of Clovis called the Sheriff’s Office about 9:30 a.m. Sunday to report that an unknown car was in his neighbor’s driveway. The resident knew that his neighbor was out of town.

The caller, armed with a handgun, walked closer to his neighbor’s property to get the car’s license plate. As he did, a man exited the home’s front door carrying a bag, deputies said.

The suspect got in the car and sped away. The neighbor then saw a second man running from the home. The neighbor chased the second man while giving updates on the suspect’s location to deputies with his cellphone.

A deputy arrested the second suspect — a 27-year-old man — near Herndon and Academy avenues. About the same time, another deputy saw the first man driving near Shepherd and Academy avenues and attempted to stop the car. However, the driver refused to stop.

The car traveled more than 100 mph before the driver — a 30-year-old man — finally stopped near Locan and Shepherd avenues.

Several items of stolen property were found in the car, the driver’s pockets and along the route where the other suspect ran away. Other property that was stolen during a Madera County burglary was found in the car, deputies said.

A small amount of methamphetamine and marijuana also were in the car.

Both suspects were booked into Fresno County Jail.