Local citizens are receiving kudos from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for helping capture a fleeing suspect.

The incident began around 6 p.m. Sunday when a sheriff’s deputy tried to stop a silver colored Acura at Spur 93 and South Garden for a traffic violation, according to a press release from JSCO.

The driver turned onto South Garden and stopped but drove off at a high rate of speed when the deputy approached the vehicle. The deputy ran back to his patrol unit and followed the fleeing vehicle.

The suspect then drove reckless through the residential area leading the deputy down South Garden, turned onto Viterbo Road, then struck another vehicle broadside wrecking into a ditch at Celia Drive and Viterbo Road.

Both the driver and passenger fled on foot and the deputy gave chase on foot.

The deputy caught the passenger and instructed him to stay where he was and then continued after the driver. The deputy then caught the driver and placed him in handcuffs. The passenger attempted to get up and flee the area.

There were several citizens watching the events unfold and several of them assisted the deputy by stopping the passenger and holding him until other deputies arrived. Once the passenger was detained by the citizens they went to check on the driver of the other vehicle that was struck by the suspects.

The driver was identified as Robert Isiah Paredes, 17, and Daniel Estrada, 18. Both were arrested on felony drug charges and transported to the Jefferson County Correctional facility once being cleared by doctors.

The driver of the other vehicle was not injured.

“The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank those citizens that assisted in the apprehension of the fleeing suspects,” Deputy Marcus McLellan said in the press release.