ENCINITAS, Calif. – Three men were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of leading police on a chase and possession of stolen catalytic converters, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department said.
It all started shortly before 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in Encinitas, when a deputy spotted a red Dodge Charger suspected of being connected to some recent catalytic converter thefts in the region, said Lt. Christopher Lawrence of the sheriff’s department.
The deputy then attempted to stop the driver near Encinitas Boulevard and Seeman Drive. The driver, later identified as 41-year-old Erik Rivera, failed to comply with a traffic stop and a chase ensued, Lawrence said.
Deputies said during the chase, Rivera hit several mailboxes on Seeman Drive and continued onto northbound Interstate 5. The chase then entered the San Clemente city limits, where the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit.
CHP officers pursued the vehicle into Orange County, where authorities successfully deployed a tire deflation device. The vehicle then stopped near Highway 73 and the La Paz Road turnoff, the sheriff’s department said.
Rivera and his passenger then allegedly fled the vehicle, according to the sheriff’s department. The backseat passengers, identified as Rufino Garcia, 41, and Francisco Perez, 45, did not attempt to flee.
Garcia and Perez were taken into custody immediately after using the tire deflation device, while Rivera was located and arrested after authorities searched the area.
The sheriff’s department says they found two catalytic converters and tools in the Dodge Charger.
All three men arrested are believed to be Los Angeles County residents and were being held at the Vista Detention Facility on multiple charges, including felony evasion, possession of stolen property and possession of burglary tools.
Authorities did not immediately say whether Rivera’s passenger had ever been found or identified.
Detectives from the North Shore Sheriff’s Office are leading the investigation. If you have any information about the incident or this investigation, please call the sheriff’s department at (858) 565-5200.
It is illegal to intentionally flee or attempt to elude a police officer while operating a motor vehicle on a street or highway in the state of Alabama after receiving a signal from the officer to stop the vehicle.
Can Alabama fire you for no reason?
Alabama adheres to a legal concept of employment known as “at will.” The “at-will” standard means that, in most cases, employers have the right to fire an employee just because they want to.
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What is a police car chase called?
A vehicle pursuit is an event that involves one or more law enforcement officers attempting to apprehend a suspect who is attempting to evade arrest while operating a motor vehicle by using speeding or other evasive tactics such as driving off the highway, making a sudden U-turn, or driving in a lawful manner, but on purpose…
Can the police watch what you do on your phone?
Yes, under certain conditions they can hear and monitor conversations. If you are suspected of a crime, the police will obtain a wiretapping warrant. Since it is a major intrusion into an individual’s privacy, strict procedures have been introduced for police officers.
