MADERA COUNTY – A Madera County fugitive is back behind bars for the seventh time, this time on charges of kidnapping.
Kyle Thomas Clarkson, 20, of North Fork, was captured just before noon on Thursday, Sept. 4, at a Starbucks drive-thru at Herndon and Palm in Fresno.
Deputies report that Clarkson forced his victim at knife point to drive him from North Fork to Fresno. During the terrifying ride, Clarkson reportedly remained in the back seat, holding a knife near the victim’s neck, saying, “Do not make me use this,” and telling his victim to make no attempt to alert authorities.
At some point, while in Fresno, Clarkson passed out and the victim, seizing an opportunity for freedom, pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru, and handed the server a note, “Call 911 please.”
Within minutes of that call, Fresno Police officers arrived on scene, and detained Clarkson.
Detective Jeff Noland took the suspect into custody and seized about two-dozen syringes and a meth pipe from the vehicle.
The victim, though terribly shaken by the ordeal, was not hurt. The victim’s identity is not being released at this time, but the Sheriff’s Office says the suspect and his victim know each other.
Clarkson, whose criminal history includes various narcotic charges and making terrorist threats, was wanted in Madera County on a felony no-bail warrant for probation violation and possession of a controlled substance. He is currently being held without bail in the Madera County Department of Corrections.
