Suspect tosses gun during pursuit in Modesto

An attempted traffic stop on McHenry Avenue early today led to a vehicle and foot pursuit, K9 search, arrest of two men and recovery of a weapon.

About 2:15 a.m., Modesto police tried to pull over a vehicle at Morris Avenue, but the driver fled north on McHenry before crashing into a pole around the Roseburg Avenue intersection, Lt. Brandon Gillespie said. Driver Faustino Vera, 21, and passenger Daniel Britt, 32, both fled the vehicle on foot.

Britt quickly was apprehended. Vera tossed a weapon as he fled, Gillespie said, and eluded police for a short time. A perimeter was set up and a K9 search initiated. Vera was found hiding in bushes; he was bitten by a police dog.

Britt was arrested on a charge of resisting arrest. Vera was arrested on charges of felony evading arrest and possession of a loaded firearm, which contained a high-capacity magazine and had its serial numbers removed, Gillespie said.

Neither man was injured in the crash. Vera was medically cleared for the dog bite before being booked, Gillespie said.

This story was originally published May 15, 2015 at 8:02 AM with the headline "Suspect tosses gun during pursuit in Modesto."