Coalinga Police K-9 Helps Arrest Domestic Violence Suspect After Felony Traffic Stop

A Coalinga man was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, child endangerment, and other charges after a police canine was used to take him into custody during a felony traffic stop, authorities said.

Officers were dispatched at about 11:54 a.m. Saturday to reports of an active physical fight between a man and woman in the 600 block of West Elm Avenue, according to a Coalinga Police Department news release.

When officers arrived, they found a juvenile girl running north on West Elm Avenue away from the scene. Police said the girl told officers she had fled the altercation to seek help. She was placed in a patrol vehicle and taken back to the area of the reported fight.

Investigators determined that Tomas Hilario Negrete, of Coalinga, had been involved in a physical altercation with his female partner, with whom he shares a child, before leaving the area in a vehicle, police said. Officers said their investigation indicated felony domestic violence crimes had occurred.

Coalinga Police Issue Alert

Police issued a “Be on the Lookout” alert for Negrete and his vehicle and entered the license plate into the city’s license plate recognition system. At about 12:30 p.m., dispatchers alerted officers that the system had detected the vehicle traveling west near Polk Street and Monterey Avenue.

Officers located the vehicle traveling south on Derrick Avenue and conducted a felony traffic stop south of Derrick and Tractor avenues, police said.

During the stop, police canine “Boss” was brought to assist officers. Negrete exited the vehicle with his hands raised, but officers noticed what they described as a large bulge in the front pocket of his hooded sweatshirt, according to the release.

Possible Weapon Prompts Canine Intervention

Police said Negrete then lowered one of his hands and reached into the pocket while turning his body away from officers. Officers believed he might be attempting to access a weapon, prompting the release of the canine, authorities said.

Negrete was taken into custody without further incident and transported to Coalinga Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and medically cleared following the canine apprehension, police said.

He was later booked into Fresno County Jail on suspicion of domestic abuse, child endangerment, resisting or obstructing an officer, and driving under the influence of alcohol, according to police.

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