A 35-year-old Bakersfield man has been arrested after a shooting and leading Bakersfield police on a brief pursuit on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said at 12:24 p.m. they responded to the 4900 block of Belle Terrace for a shooting. Officers arrived and determined the suspect, Carlos Rivas, 35, of Bakersfield, had been involved in an argument with a woman. Rivas produced a semi-automatic handgun and began firing rounds into the air prior to fleeing the scene.
Approximately one hour later officers observed Rivas in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in the area of Stockdale Highway and Village Lane. As officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Rivas forced the driver out of the vehicle, and lead officers on vehicle pursuit. The pursuit was ultimately canceled for the safety of the public and a short time later Rivas’s vehicle became disabled at the intersection of Planz Road and South H Street.
Rivas exited the vehicle and as he was attempting to flee, he discarded methamphetamine. He was located in the nearby area and was taken into custody with the use of a police dog. The subject who was forced from the vehicle was uninjured.
Rivas sustained minor injuries as a result of his arrest, and he was later arrested and booked into the Kern County Jail for a parole violation, negligent discharge of a firearm, several firearm related charges, carjacking, narcotics sales, and felony evading. No firearm was located.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Bakersfield Police Department (661) 327-7111.
