A man who refused to stop his dirt bike was arrested when he fled from deputies through Avenal and later led the Sheriff's Office right to him by parking the getaway vehicle in front of his home.

Two members of the Kings County Rural Crimes Unit were on assignment in Avenal on Oct. 22 when they noticed a man riding a motorcycle down Madera Street. This motorcycle, an off-road style dirt bike, is considered illegal to drive on the road, according to the Kings County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives Clay Crippen and Ryan Richardson tried to conduct a traffic stop on the bike, but the driver refused to yield, a news release said.

The incident was called in as a vehicle pursuit westbound on Madera Street. Avenal patrol Deputy Stephanie Southworth chased the man in a marked patrol vehicle until the driver entered a residential area.

"At that point, we terminated the chase because of public safety concerns," Sheriff's Cmdr. Don Deeds said.

Patrols continued to scout the area and, minutes later, found the motor bike parked in front of a home in the 300 block of Madera Street.

Witnesses in the area and evidence at the scene led deputies to believe the runaway suspect was hiding inside the home, according to the Sheriff's Office. A woman who identified herself as Shawna Mathis told deputies that the suspect had left the area and was not inside.

Ultimately, the building was secured and a search warrant was served. Shad Chaffin, the 40-year-old man seen riding the motorcycle earlier, was found hiding inside.

Investigators also found an undetermined amount of narcotics, which they later said was packaged for sales.

Small children were also found inside the house.

Chaffin and Mathis were arrested and booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of willful cruelty to a child, possession of a controlled substance and possession for a smoking device.

Mathis, 27, was also booked on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact, while Chaffin was accused of attempting to evade an officer and being a felon in possession of ammunition.

The Hanford Parole Office confirmed that Chaffin was released from parole in November 2008 after a previous charge of possession of a controlled substance.

His bail was set at $130,00, but both he and Mathis have since been released from custody.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Oct. 30, 2009)