MADERA COUNTY – The arrest of two Madera men who reportedly opened fire on a Sheriff’s deputy has led to the discovery of what was described as “an arsenal of stolen weapons,” some of which are linked to a residential burglary in Coarsegold.
Just before 4 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, a deputy attempted to make a vehicle stop near Fairmead Blvd. and Avenue 22. Instead of pulling over, the truck took off at a high rate of speed, and as many as 40 shots were fired from the vehicle as it fled, according to the Madera County Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy called for assistance as the truck veered into an orchard off Road 24, wound its way through the trees and finally barreled through a gate into a chicken farm, where the suspects fled on foot.
They left behind a truck loaded with stolen weapons, ammunition, sales receipts and a stockpile of camping gear, including a propane tank, says the Sheriff’s Office.
A team of detectives fanned out immediately to search for the suspects, and discovered a key piece of evidence inside the truck. This led them to the Days Inn located on Avenue 16 near CA-99, where the suspects were arrested at about 2 p.m.
Abel Ramos, 24, and Mario Estevan Valdez, 28, both of Madera, are now behind bars, and the investigation is ongoing.
