September 4, 2014 - Sheriff John Anderson this afternoon announced, Madera County fugitive Kyle Thomas Clarkson, age 20, of North Fork, is back behind bars for the seventh time – now for kidnapping. He was captured just before noon today at a Starbucks Drive-thru on Herndon and Palm in Fresno.
Deputies report Clarkson forced his victim at knifepoint (in North Fork) to drive him to Fresno. During the terrifying ride, Clarkson reportedly remained in the backseat, holding a knife near the victim’s neck, saying, “Do not make me use this,” and telling his victim to make no attempt to alert authorities.At some point, while in Fresno, he passed out, and the victim, seizing an opportunity for freedom, pulled into the Starbucks drive-thru, and handed the server a note, “Call 911 please.”
Within minutes after that call, Fresno Police Officers arrived on scene, and detained Clarkson.
Detective Jeff Noland took him into custody, and seized from the vehicle, as many as 2 dozen syringes and a meth pipe.
The victim, though terribly shaken by the ordeal, was not hurt. The victim’s identity is not being released at this time. Both the suspect and his victim do know each other.
Clarkson, whose criminal history includes, various narcotic charges and making terrorist threats, was wanted in Madera County on a Felony no-bail warrant for probation violation and possession of a controlled substance. He is currently being held without bail in the Madera County Department of Corrections.
