Two Oakhurst men are behind bars following a short pursuit over Deadwood last night, Tuesday, Dec. 18. A canine tracked down one suspect and a sheriff’s deputy recovered a UZI rifle.

Around 9:30 p.m., Deputy Richard Gonzales attempted to conduct an enforcement stop near Road 420 and Highway 41. Instead of yielding, the driver, Adrian Joseph Reyes, 28, took off heading north when he suddenly pulled over at a turnout. His passenger, Joshua Russell Murray, 18, jumped out of the car carrying a backpack and fled down the hill.

Sgt. Tyson Pogue and Deputy Steve Robinson detained Reyes while Gonzales took off running to find Murray. Gonzales found the backpack. Inside it he found an unloaded semi automatic 9mm Uzi firearm, numerous rounds of ammunition, and a homemade silencer.

A K9 team was called to assist in the search for Murray. A Mariposa County Sheriff’s K9 deputy deployed his partner “K9 Arthur,” who found the suspect hiding under brush between boulders at the bottom of a steep ravine. Based on where Murray was captured, deputies say they would not have been able to find him had it not been for K9 Arthur’s keen nose and tracking ability.

Murray now faces weapons charges and carrying a firearm with a prior felony. He is being held without bail.

Reyes, who was driving on a suspended license, was booked for driving without a license and evading police. His bail was set at $5,000.