Synopsis: Traffic Pursuit
Details:
This is a news release of the Kern County Sheriff's Department.
Please do not contact the Sheriff's Communications Center.

Date:     Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Time:     3:39:34 AM
Department contact: Sergeant C. Cornelison
Phone: 661-303-4592

Details:

On 7/30/07 Detectives from the Sheriff's Major Violator Unit concluded an investigation into the illegal
cultivation of Marijuana being grown on U.S. Forrest Service land. During the investigation detectives
located two vehicles in the area of a large-scale marijuana grow. Detectives attempted to stop the suspect
vehicles with the assistance of patrol deputies stationed out of the Mc Farland and Delano response area.
One vehicle stopped for deputies, which was found to contain five suspects. The second vehicle refused to
stop for deputies and lead them on a high speed pursuit into the Delano area. Both suspects ran from the
vehicle in the 2100 block of Jasmine Street in an attempt to escape capture. The passenger of the vehicle
was arrested after a short foot chase and struggle with deputies. The driver of the vehicle escaped and has
not been located. During a search of the vehicle a loaded .22 caliber rifle and approximately 20 pounds of
processed marijuana with a street value of  $50,000 was located. The suspects were identified as Saul
Ponce Torres age 19 of Portland Oregon, Florentino Torres age 22 of Delano, Valertin Contreras age 19 of
Delano, Jose Comacho Bustos age 20 of Delano, Daniel Alejandro Reyes age 21 of Delano, and Vicente
Bustos Camacho age 22 of Delano. All six were arrested and booked for HS 11358 Cultivation of Marijuana,
and PC182 Conspiracy. Vicente Bustos Camacho was booked with the additional charges of HS 11377
Possession of Methamphetamine, PC 12031 possession of a loaded firearm, and PC 148 Resisting arrest.
Bail has been set in the amount of $500,000 for each.