An 18-year-old Turlock resident is facing a litany of criminal charges after leading Turlock police officers on a wild pursuit that went through multiple towns and included two crashes.

The suspect, identified as Brandon Linares, 18, was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, felony failure to yield, felony resisting arrest and two counts of hit and run.

The incident began around 6:45 a.m. Sunday when a Turlock police officer noticed a 1999 Honda CRV being driven erratically in the area of Del’s Lane and Pedras Road. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the driver, later identified as Linares, refused to yield and sped away.

A pursuit was initiated and wound through several Turlock streets before entering into Denair, said Turlock Police spokesman Sgt. Russ Holeman.

In Denair the Honda struck the right rear of a Turlock Police K9 patrol vehicle. It was initially thought the collision was done intentionally, but now it appears Linares was traveling at an excessive speed and couldn’t control the vehicle during a turn. The officer and the K9 were not injured, Holeman said.

Despite the collision the pursuit continued, with the suspect leading officers into Ballico and then Delhi before changing direction and heading back into Turlock.

At East and Oak avenues in Turlock the Honda got a flat tire and Linares crashed it into a telephone pole.

Linares and his two passengers ran from the vehicle. One passenger, a juvenile, was apprehended almost immediately. A perimeter was set up around the area and Linares was soon found and taken into custody. He was apprehended with the help of Verick, the K9 whose vehicle he had struck earlier in the pursuit.

Another passenger in the vehicle was not located.

Linares and his passenger were both treated at the scene by American Medical Response.