By Sarah Elizabeth Villicana, The Porterville Recorder

Police are investigating an early morning carjacking that ended in a car crash and four arrests.

A 19-year-old Porterville man told police he was assaulted and then carjacked Sunday about 1 p.m. by three male suspects. One suspect allegedly brandished what the victim believed to be a silver semi-automatic gun, said Porterville Police Department Sgt. Duanne Griffin.

The victim said the suspects physically assaulted him using their fists and beer bottles, police report. He said the suspects later ordered him out of the vehicle near F Street and Thurman Avenue, fleeing the scene in the victim's car. Around 3 a.m., a Porterville police officer observed a vehicle that matched the description of the stolen car, Griffin said.

The vehicle occupants appeared to be two males and two females. After failing to yield to the officer's lights and siren, the suspects reportedly engaged officers in a vehicle pursuit, lasting about 1 1/2 miles.

Griffin said the pursuit traveled west on Putnam Avenue, from Cobb Street to Mathew Street, reaching speeds of 70 mph. The pursuit came to an end when the suspect vehicle crashed into a cement post at Mathew Street. The four suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, Griffin said.

Police officers conducted a yard-to-yard search of the area and were able to locate all four suspects. Michael Castillo, 18, was arrested along with a 17-year-old male, a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old female. All four suspects were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property and resisting arrest.

Police are still investigating the carjacking and the victim's statements to officers, which Griffin said were “ a little fishy.”

The victim told police he was driving in a residential area looking for a co-worker's house and was supposed to give them a ride to work, Griffin said. According to his statement to police, the victim saw three “gansta-type” males whom he did not know and asked them for directions. He then asked the three suspects if they needed a ride because, according to the victim's statement, he did not want law enforcement to bother them.

Contact Sarah Villicana at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or svillicana@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Sept. 19, 2006