Drama played out in the 3400 block of Dirk Court on Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 29 when police pulled over a reckless driver and two of his acquaintances tried interfering with his arrest and were also arrested.

Officer Frederico Ortiz was on patrol at 3:32 p.m. and spotted a blue BMW 335II being driven recklessly and seemingly in an effort to avoid the officer from catching up. Officer Ortiz followed the car until the driver, Alexander Yepez-Ortega, 19, pulled up in front of a house on Dirk Court and began running toward the residence. He was stopped in his tracks when Officer Ortiz held a gun on him and ordered him to get on the ground until backup officers arrived. 

Yepez-Ortega was compliant and lying on the ground, when Jamie Yepez-Ortega, 25, and Citlalli Moreno, 21, came charging out of the house and began interfering with Officer Ortiz. Both Jamie Yepez-Ortega and Citlalli were booked on charges of obstructing an investigation.

While being booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, Alexander Yepez-Ortega was found to be in possession of suspected cocaine. He was charged with reckless driving, possession of suspected cocaine, transportation of illegal drugs, driving without a driver’s license and resisting arrest.