OAKHURST–On Sunday, September 29, 2024, shortly before 5 a.m., the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a call for service for an alarm at Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure, located in the 40000 block of Highway 41 in Oakhurst. The alarm company reported two males with their faces covered inside the store stealing bicycles. They were reportedly loading them into a white van. Sergeant Hernandez arrived within 5 minutes and confirmed a burglary had occurred, but the van was nowhere in sight.
Deputy Eichman was in the Coarsegold area and noticed a white Ford E-350 van pass him. It was traveling southbound on Highway 41. When he attempted to initiate a traffic stop, the van failed to yield and led Deputies on an 11-mile pursuit. After Deputy Cox successfully deployed spike strips at Highway 41 and Highway 145, the van continued driving with flat tires, ultimately crashing into the embankment near the Madera Canal south of Avenue 15.
Four suspects fled the van and ran in separate directions. As additional Deputies arrived in the area, they quickly apprehended and arrested three of the suspects. They were later identified as 62-year-old Orlan Doser, 58-year-old Earwin McCullar, and 57-year-old Manuel Tejeda, all of Fresno.
Deputy Cox returned to the area after booking the first three suspects and located the fourth and last outstanding suspect, identified as 27 year old Isaac Alvarez out of Fresno.
Deputies recovered 8 bicycles inside the van that were confirmed stolen from Pedal Forward Bikes & Adventure and returned them to the owner. The value of the bicycles is a combined total of over $20,000.
Sheriff Tyson Pogue.
This was a great collaborative team effort between Deputies from the East County Mountain and Valley divisions. I applaud our team’s efforts in resolving this incident safely and successfully.”-Sheriff Tyson Pogue
