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Matthew Duenas (on the ground) was arrested Thursday after leading Santa Paula Police on a chase that saw him jump from rooftop to rooftop before hiding in a blue recycling bin. Among the SPPD Officers involved were K9 Ace with Senior Officer Allen Macias (second from right) and Sgt. Larry Johnson (right).
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Gang member with five active warrants leads SPPD on separate foot pursuits
July 08, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A known gang member with five active warrants who led Santa Paula Police on separate foot pursuits was captured Thursday after he attempted to get away jumping from roof and roof before hiding in a trash can.
Senior Officer Allen Macias said officers were dispatched July 2 at about 1:22 p.m. to the 100 block of Salas Street “regarding a disturbance involving a wanted subject,” Matthew Duenas, 27 of Santa Paula.
Police had attempted to stop Duenas June 30 when they saw him walking in the area of Ojai and Main streets.
At that time Duenas, a “known Santa Paula based gang member,” with five outstanding warrants, ran from officers, “causing,” said Macias, “a foot pursuit…officers set up a perimeter and began to search for Duenas,” but after checking the area they were unable to locate him.
When called about Duenas July 2, during the investigation, the reporting party advised officers that Duenas had fled the residence on foot southbound on Salas Street.
Macias said officers checked the immediate area and “located Duenas walking northbound on Vela Court from Salas Street.”
As officers attempted to contact Duenas, he again ran away causing a foot pursuit by officers.
Officers in the area of the pursuit then saw Duenas “jumping from rooftop to rooftop,” before he disappeared and a perimeter was set up in the area.
Macias said, “an anonymous resident observed Duenas jump inside a blue trash can,” normally used for recycling.
When officers responded to the area and ordered Duenas out of the blue bin, Macias said, “After a few seconds, Duenas opened the lid of the trash can and surrendered,” and was arrested without further incident.
“It probably wasn’t a good idea to hide in a trash can in this heat,” Police Chief Steve McLean posted on Facebook.
