41-year-old Harvey Welch of Fresno has been booked into the Fresno County Jail for multiple counts including: Hit and run, reckless driving and drug possession. Welch is also on active probation for a drug charge and had a warrant out for his arrest.
30-year-old David Piersen was also arrested. He was cited and released for resisting arrest.
Around 4:45 pm Tuesday, members of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Ag Task Force were patrolling the area of Feland and Weldon Avenues in Fresno. They found a white Honda Civic driving along the road with an expired vehicle registration. Detectives activated lights and sirens on their patrol car and attempted to pull the driver over, however, the driver (Harvey Welch) sped up and pulled into a trailer park on the 3100 block of W. McKinley Ave. The Honda slowed down briefly and the passenger (David Piersen) jumped out as the car was still moving. Piersen then ran away between some trailers. Detectives continued to follow the Honda in a slow pursuit, which reached 45 mph. The Honda made its way into a neighborhood on Carol Ave. Welch eventually lost control going over some speed bumps and crashed into a blue Nissan that was parked along the street. Welch got out of his car and ran, failing to stop for detectives who shouted at him and identified themselves as members of the Sheriff’s Office. Welch threw two baggies on the ground as he was running, which were later found to contain methamphetamine. Welch slipped and fell and that allowed detectives to take him into custody.
Responding patrol deputies setup a perimeter to assist in a ground search for the second suspect. David Piersen was eventually located near a liquor store on the 3200 block of W. McKinley Ave. He too was taken into custody without incident.
Anyone with information on the suspects in this case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).
