A 19-year-old Turlock teenager was arrested Saturday evening after he fled from Ceres Police and was tracked to Turlock by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department helicopter crew.

Taken into custody was Ramiro Valenzuela, 19, of Turlock. A 12-year-old passenger in the car was released to family. Valenzuela faces charges of evading police in a vehicle and child endangerment.

The incident began at 9:55 p.m., when Ceres Police Sgt. Aaron Pinon was patrolling the area of Service and Mitchell roads and attempted to stop Valenzuela in a Dodge Charger for vehicle code violations. Rather than stop, Valenzuela accelerated and a pursuit was initiated. Sgt. Pinon requested the assistance of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Air Unit which was nearby and overhead within 30 seconds. With the helicopter locked onto the fleeing vehicle, Ceres police backed off and followed the vehicle from a distance.

Valenzuela drove southbound on Highway 99 and exited at Taylor Road and stopped due to mechanical problems in the intersection of Taylor Road and Golden State Blvd. Police then made a high-risk stop on both occupants.