Police chase man across Highway 99 in Ceres

CERES -- Police officers chased a suspect who ran across four lanes of highway traffic to avoid arrest Tuesday night.

An officer at Whitmore and Central avenues attempted a traffic stop of a bicyclist at about 8:30 p.m. The bicyclist refused to stop and instead rode south toward the Whitmore offramp and jumped off his bike, said Sgt. Patrick Sullivan.

The suspect ran west across Highway 99, and officers followed into what one described as "very light traffic," Sullivan said. When the officers jumped over the center divide, they saw the man lying on the ground in the southbound lanes. The officers didn't know whether the man had been hit by a car or tripped, but he got up when he saw officers and continued to run, Sullivan said. The California Highway Patrol had no reports of anyone hit on the highway near Whitmore, but chase witnesses did call 911.

Officers caught up to the suspect on the shoulder of the southbound lanes. He fought with them, but was eventually subdued, Sullivan said.

Officers identified the suspect as 41-year-old Robert Guinn. They found methamphetamine in his pocket, Sullivan said.

Guinn was not arrested but instead taken to the hospital. Upon his release he faces charges of resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

Bee staff writer Erin Tracy can be reached at etracy@modbee.com or (209) 578-2366.