Foresthill Homeowners On Lookout For 3 Mexican Nationals Who Fled Traffic Stop

FORESTHILL (CBS13) — Foresthill homeowners say they're armed and on the lookout for three suspects hiding from law enforcement, including one suspect who escaped in handcuffs.

The Placer County Sheriff's Office says the men who had five guns in their car took off running during a traffic stop heading toward the Tahoe National Forest on Wednesday afternoon.

"They appeared out of place. He just said, 'Hey, I'm the rural deputy. Can I see your IDs?'" said spokeswoman Dena Erwin.

One of the men had a warrant for felony drug sales. The deputy was putting him in handcuffs when all four ran in different directions into the forest.

"They did have rain last night. It was very cold last night and nobody was apparently dressed for these kinds of conditions," she said.

Foresthill resident Kevin Reid wonders if they survived the night.

"If any of them went down in the canyon where they abandoned the car, they could freeze to death. If they were wearing street clothing, their chances of surviving the night would be really slim," he said.

But at least one man made it out of the forest. One of the men was arrested at 2 a.m. on Thursday in Auburn. He was a passenger in a vehicle, but told deputies he was hiding in a ditch all night in Foresthill, not far from where the traffic stop occurred.

The three men, Mexican nationals, are still at large and considered armed and dangerous.