PPD arrests four after crash

Two stolen cars also recovered

Four people were arrested Friday afternoon after wrecking a stolen car, the Porterville Police Department reported.

PPD officers responded to the area of Olive Avenue and Jaye Street regarding a hit-and-run traffic collision involving a Chevrolet Cruze at approximately 1:15 p.m. on Friday. While responding to the scene, officers received information that two subjects were seen fleeing the scene of the collision on foot and observed getting into a Toyota Corolla, which fled the area.

Assisting Officers located the Toyota Corolla shortly thereafter driving in the area of Kessing Street and Morton Avenue and initiated a traffic stop, detaining four occupants.

Officers were able to determine that two of the occupants were the same individuals seen fleeing from the Chevrolet Cruze and they were identified as 15 year old and 17 year old Porterville residents. The driver of the Toyota Corolla was identified as Julian Martinez, 18, and the other occupant was identified as Isaiah Molano, 20, both of Porterville.

Further investigation revealed that the Toyota Corolla had been stolen earlier in the day from the 100 block of North E Street and the Chevrolet Cruze had been stolen from the 300 block of North Lotas Street, shortly before the collision occurred.

Officers also received information that the two stolen vehicles had been following each other at the time of collision.

One subject involved in the collision suffered minor injuries, but did not require medical attention. Both stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to their respective owners.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Martinez and Molano were booked into the custody of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office and are being held in lieu of $35,000 bail each. Both juveniles were booked into the custody of the Juvenile Detention Facility where they are being held without bail. Charges include suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing the scene of an injury traffic collision and aiding and abetting a felon.