Four chihuahuas are missing and a man is in jail this morning after a police chase in Nipomo on Wednesday night.

At 10:16 p.m., sheriff's deputies tried to stop a man at the service station island at the Chevron station in Nipomo, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office. Deputies suspected the man, Ruben Jay Rivera, had made traffic violations and may have also had warrants out for his arrest.

After initially stopping, Rivera, 28, then drove out of the station, according to the news release. Deputies started driving after him.

Rivera, who is from Nipomo, made it approximately 160 yards on South Frontage Road when he tried to drive onto an off-road embankment, according to authorities. He lost control of his vehicle and got stuck in the sand.

Rivera got out out of the vehicle and ran into a neighboring yard, according to the news release. The CHP, a sheriff's K9 unit and patrol deputies searched the cordoned-off yard and found Rivera a short time later.

Rivera was arrested on suspicion of felony pursuit, resisting arrest and an outstanding local misdemeanor warrant. He was booked into County Jail.

When Rivera went into the resident's yard, four chihuahuas were unintentionally let loose. Anyone who has information about the missing dogs is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 781-4550.

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