David Garcia, 32, from Fresno, was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm after a high-speed chase. The chase ended when his vehicle was disabled at Scandinavian Middle School. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California reported that a loaded firearm was found during the incident.
On January 23, officers tried to stop a vehicle connected to multiple catalytic converter thefts. The driver, Garcia, sped away, driving over lawns and breaking traffic laws. He collided with another vehicle before crashing into a school fence, where the chase ended. Court documents state that Garcia, who is banned from owning firearms due to previous felony convictions in Fresno County, was found with a stolen Glock 22 and an extended magazine, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office.
Garcia was arrested following an investigation by Homeland Security Investigations and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Veneman-Hughes is prosecuting the case. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, "If convicted, Garcia faces a maximum statutory penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine." The charges are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Justice Department program relaunched in May 2021 to reduce violent crime and gun violence by coordinating law enforcement efforts and supporting community safety initiatives.
