Vehicle stuck in mud leads to arrest of man

Hard rain last week could lead to hard time after a man was arrested in Madera County.

On Tuesday, April 21, Madera County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were dispatched to the area of Road 32 and Avenue 12 regarding a vehicle stuck in a field.

The sedan was beside an orchard and had water and mud up to the doors.

MCSO said a witness reported two subjects were seen standing in the mud near the car and, perhaps not coincidentally, a nearby agriculture storage unit had been burglarized.

Deputies arrived on scene and located the vehicle but no suspects.

When the vehicle was towed out of the mud deputies found 50, 2.5 gallon containers of assorted agriculture chemicals inside, according to officials.

While responders were extracting the vehicle a subject returned to the scene.

He was detained and searched. At that point, MCSO said, deputies found approximately five grams of crystal methamphetamine in his pocket.

The man was said to have been positively identified as one of the subjects with the car. He was also in possession of keys to the vehicle.

During their investigation into the burglarized storage unit, MCSO said deputies found approximately $10,000 worth of chemicals were missing from the container.

The suspect was identified as Jaime Estrada, 37.

Estrada was arrested and booked into the Madera County Jail on charges including burglary, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information regarding the second suspect and/or his whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Brandon Smith at (559) 706-8197.

Tips may also be emailed to MCSOTip@maderacounty.com, made on the Madera County Sheriff’s Mobile App at www.MaderaSheriffApp.com  or by texting “Tip Madera-SO” followed by your message to 888777.

Anonymous tips may be made through Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).