MADERA COUNTY – Two Oakhurst men are behind bars following a short pursuit over Deadwood on Tuesday night. Jailed are Joshua Russell Murray, 18, and Adrian Joseph Reyes, 28.At around 9:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Dec. 18, Deputy Richard Gonzales attempted to conduct an enforcement stop near Road 420 and Highway 41. Instead of yielding, the driver, later identified as Adrian Reyes, took off heading north.
Reyes suddenly pulled over at a turnout, where his passenger, identified as Joshua Murray, jumped out of the car carrying a backpack and fled down the hill.
Sgt. Tyson Pogue and Deputy Steve Robinson detained the driver, while Deputy Gonzales took off running to find Murray. Deputy Gonzales found the backpack, which contained an unloaded semi automatic 9mm Uzi firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a homemade silencer.
A K-9 team was called to assist in the search for Murray. A Mariposa County Sheriff’s K-9 Deputy deployed his partner “K9 Arthur,” who found the suspect hiding under brush between boulders at the bottom of a steep ravine.
Based on where Murray was captured, deputies say they would not have been able to find him had it not been for K9 Arthur’s keen nose and tracking ability.
Murray remains jailed at this hour facing weapons charges, and carrying a firearm with a prior felony. He is being held without bail.
Reyes, who was driving on a suspended license, was booked for driving without a license and evading police. His bail was set at $5,000.
