Nine people were arrested after Clovis Police ran a two-day undercover operation targeting human traffickers and child predators, and the sweep ended with a dramatic twist: one suspect who refused to pull over led officers on a pursuit that triggered a five-vehicle crash. Three adults were treated for pain at the scene, and an infant was taken to a hospital as a precaution.
The operation unfolded on October 16 and 17, with assistance from the California Department of Justice and the nonprofit Breaking the Chains, according to kmjnow.com. Seven of the nine suspects were taken into custody without incident at various locations around Clovis, the outlet reported. The eighth arrest came only after the crash, which happened near Shields and Armstrong avenues, as reported by GV Wire.
Chase Ends in Five-Car Pileup
According to the original report from KMPH Fox 26, the suspect ran from the wreck but was caught a short distance away and taken into custody. Because the crash happened in Fresno's jurisdiction, the Fresno Police Department handled the collision investigation, the station noted. GV Wire's account specified that three adults complained of pain and were treated at the scene, while the infant was transported to a hospital purely as a precaution.
Multiple human trafficking victims identified during the operation were placed in the care of Breaking the Chains, the local nonprofit that works with survivors, per GV Wire's reporting. The number of victims identified was not disclosed.
Who Was Arrested
Fernando Garza, 34, of Fresno, was arrested on suspicion of pandering, possessing ammunition as a convicted felon, violating post-release community supervision, and an unrelated warrant, GV Wire reported. William Vallejo, 29, of Fresno, faced charges of pandering, evading officers, hit-and-run, and obstructing a peace officer, according to yourcentralvalley.com.
The same outlet reported that Jordan Smith, 23, and Aaron Gray, 24, both of Fresno, were each arrested on pandering charges. Letrice Moton, 29, and Alize Gonzalez, 24, both of Fresno, were arrested for soliciting prostitution, as was Celestina Bejaran, 28, of Modesto, per yourcentralvalley.com's account.
Charges Involving Minors
Two of the arrests involved allegations of contact with minors. David Martinez, 48, of Madera, was arrested on charges of contacting a minor and arranging a meeting with a minor with intent to commit a sexual act, yourcentralvalley.com reported. Christian Scott, 31, of Clovis, faced charges of persuading a minor to engage in commercial sex acts along with contacting and arranging to meet a minor with intent to commit a sexual act, the outlet said.
Police are still searching for Kyle Riechel, 36, of Fresno, who is wanted on charges involving contacting and arranging to meet a minor with intent to commit a sexual act, evading officers, and violating probation, according to GV Wire. Riechel was not among those taken into custody during the operation.
A Recurring Pattern in Clovis
This is not the first time a Clovis sting has snared suspects seeking contact with minors or trafficking victims. In January 2023, an undercover operation at a Clovis hotel led to the arrest of six men who believed they were meeting teens or young women, with detectives posing as teens or women online, The Fresno Bee reported at the time. At least two of those men believed they were meeting a 16-year-old, and all six were booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of felony human trafficking; a loaded firearm and cocaine were found on one of them, the paper noted. That earlier operation also drew help from the California Department of Justice, alongside Fresno County's Multi-Agency Gang Enforcement Consortium.
The charges detailed in this week's arrests are allegations stemming from the operation, and no court outcomes have been reported. Anyone with information is asked to contact Clovis Police's non-emergency line or Valley Crime Stoppers, while Breaking the Chains continues to offer support to trafficking victims connected to the case.
