Fresno police arrested Valentin Viera after officers said he crashed an SUV into a home, fled on foot and was found with a loaded AR-style rifle in the vehicle. (Fresno PD)
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A man was arrested on weapons charges after police said he crashed an SUV into a Fresno home and ran from officers, who later found a loaded AR-style rifle inside the vehicle.
Fresno police identified the driver as Valentin Viera.
Officers first saw a silver SUV traveling without its headlights on at about 10:37 p.m. Friday near East Clinton Avenue and North Angus Street, according to the Fresno Police Department. Police said the SUV ran a red light.
Officers tried to catch up with the SUV but lost sight of it after it turned south onto a nearby street. A short time later, officers found the SUV after it had crashed into a home in the 3900 block of East Clinton Avenue, police said.
An officer saw Viera crawl out of the vehicle through the front passenger side and run south on North Ninth Street, according to police. The officer chased Viera on foot and detained him a short distance away.
Other officers who remained with the SUV saw an unsecured AR-style rifle on the rear passenger-side seat, police said. The rifle had a 10-inch barrel and was loaded with what police described as a high-capacity magazine.
Police said the rifle had one live round in the chamber and 38 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition in the magazine.
A records check showed Viera had a prior felony conviction, according to police.
Viera was arrested on multiple weapons allegations and booked into the Fresno County Jail.
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