Sonora area pursuit ends in arrest of two Stanislaus County men

Two Stanislaus County men were found with a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin near Twain Harte on Thursday afternoon following a high speed pursuit, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The pursuit started in Sonora on Highway 108 near Mono Way when officer Mike McDaniel initiated a traffic stop on a Toyota Camry with expired registration, according to officer Nick Norton.

The Toyota pulled toward the right shoulder at first, then went back onto the road and accelerated away from the officer.

The pursuit reached speeds of 80 mph in the 55 zone as it headed east on Highway 108.

The driver turned onto Twain Harte Drive, where he drove 60 mph in the 35 zone and nearly hit an oncoming car as he crossed over double yellow lines, according to Norton. The driver then turned right onto Ponderosa Drive and tried to turn left onto Hillcrest Road but lost control of the car and left the roadway, narrowly missing a tree.

Officers surrounded the car and arrested the suspects without further incident. In the Toyota, they found a loaded revolver and speed loaders, as well as several ounces of methamphetamine and heroin packaged for sale, according to Norton.

The driver, 28-year-old Eric Gray of Modesto, was booked into the Tuolumne County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, felony evading and transportation of drugs for sale.

The passenger, 19-year-old Justin Jarrell of Oakdale, was arrested on suspicion of possession for sales of drugs.

This story was originally published January 9, 2015 at 5:18 PM with the headline "Sonora area pursuit ends in arrest of two Stanislaus County men."