Fresno schools locked down after Clovis chase ends in arrests

A reckless-driving stop near Bullard and Willow avenues in Clovis rippled into lockdowns at Fresno campuses, including McLane High School, after two men led police on a high-speed chase that ended in arrests and no injuries.

The pursuit began around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday when an officer tried to stop a driver near Bullard and Willow avenues, according to police. Clovis Police said two men were inside the vehicle as it sped away, turning a routine traffic stop into a city-crossing emergency that quickly reached Fresno neighborhoods and school campuses.

Fresno Police used a drone and a helicopter to follow the vehicle from overhead as officers tracked the chase in real time. During the pursuit, the passenger got out of the car near Chestnut and Barstow avenues and was detained a short distance away. The driver kept going before pulling over near Cedar and Shields avenues, where police said he tried to hide in a home garage before being arrested.

The chase forced surrounding Fresno schools to lock down while officers worked to contain the situation. McLane High School was among the campuses placed under lockdown, underscoring how quickly a police incident in Clovis can spill into Fresno and disrupt the school day far from the original stop.

Police later lifted the lockdowns after the suspects were detained. No injuries were reported. The incident highlighted the value of overhead tracking and cross-agency response, but it also showed how a fast-moving pursuit can place nearby schools and families on alert in minutes when a suspect vehicle cuts across city lines.