Crime & Safety

High Speed Police Chase Ends With French Valley Crash

The suspect tried to make a getaway but was arrested after he crashed the white Mercedes he was driving.

A burglary suspect allegedly sought by police in two counties was arrested in French Valley today after leading Riverside County deputies on a chase.

Events began to unfurl around 2:30 p.m. Friday when deputies responded to a burglary in progress in Temecula’s 41000 block of Placer Lafite, according to Sgt. Dean Spivacke of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

As deputies approached the scene, a suspect walked out of a home carrying property, Spivacke explained. The front door of the residence had also been forced open, the sergeant added.

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The suspect made a quick getaway by jumping into a white Mercedes and fleeing at a high rate of speed, Spivacke reported.

A police perimeter was set in the area, and about 10 minutes later an officer in French Valley spotted a speeding white Mercedes that matched the description of the suspect vehicle, the sergeant continued.

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The officer chased the Mercedes but lost sight of it, Spivacke said.

The Mercedes was seen again, this time on Auld Road headed toward Winchester Road.

“[An] officer initiated a pursuit and chased the vehicle onto Winchester Road where the suspect lost control of the Mercedes and crashed through a fence and into an open field,” Spivacke said. “The suspect fled the vehicle and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. He was later found in possession of property stolen in the burglary. Additionally, he was found to have felony warrants from two adjoining counties.”

The suspect was arrested but the sheriff's department is declining to release his name at this time due to the ongoing investigation.


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