K9 Blue takes down Kings County felon accused of DUI high-speed chase

KINGS COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – K9 Blue helped take down a suspected DUI driver who led deputies on a high-speed chase through Kings County Wednesday.

On Wednesday, around 1:30 a.m., a deputy was patrolling when he noticed a Jeep that was missing its front license plate leaving the Yokut Gas Station. After running the registration, the deputy found that the back plate was registered to a Honda.

The deputy put on his lights, but the sheriff’s office says 43-year-old driver, Marco Erik Estrella-Medina, refused to pull over. The sheriff’s office says he drove west on Jersey Avenue, exceeding 115 mph, and ran multiple stop signs along the way.

According to the sheriff’s office, he also tried to obstruct their view by veering onto the dirt shoulder to kick up dust.

The chase continued to Highway 198, where deputies said Estrella-Medina reached speeds of 120 mph. Deputies deployed spike strips near Jackson Ave and deflated the Jeep’s tires, but Estrella-Medina continued to drive.

Just before reaching Kansas Avenue, he drove east across Highway 41 into a grass field where he collided with a security fence around a large solar panel installation. Officials said he then abandoned the Jeep and leapt over the fence, leaving behind an unharmed passenger who was apprehended.

After more than an hour of searching, Air-1 informed deputies that they had found Estrella-Medina lying beneath a row of solar panels.

According to deputies, he refused to comply with numerous orders to surrender; that’s when K-9 Blue was deployed and took him down.

Estrella-Medina was transported to a nearby hospital and was taken into custody after his discharge. During the booking process, deputies say ammunition was located on his person, which he was prohibited from possessing due to his multiple felony convictions.

His charges include evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, driving the wrong way during a pursuit, resisting arrest, being a convicted felon in possession of ammunition, and DUI. His bail was set at $90,000.