Dangerous high speed pursuit leads Hemet Police to area of Oak Glen Road near Red Mountain Road

Dangerous high speed pursuit of stolen vehicle leads Hemet Police to Oak Glen Road in Sage

Unidentified suspect evades arrest after vehicle became disabled 

Written by Trevor Montgomery
For hemeteyenews.com



With on-scene coverage from Hemet News reporters Miguel Shannon​ and John Kemp​.

Sage, Calif.; On Sunday, October 4, 2015, at around 11:00 p.m., a vehicle pursuit was initiated in the city of Hemet after officers from the Hemet Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle that had been reported as stolen.

The driver of the vehicle failed to yield and led officers on a high speed pursuit through the city and out into the rural, unincorporated area of Sage.

The vehicle being pursued was described as a black, Chrysler Sebring convertible. Hemet Police Officers advised the vehicle was occupied by two suspects and described the occupants of the vehicle as a Hispanic adult male driver and an unknown race female passenger, headed south out of the city towards the Sage area on Sage Road (R3).

Hemet News reader Tania Quiroz advised she was near the intersection of Domenigoni Parkway and State Street when she saw the wild pursuit approaching her location. As the pursuit passed her, Quiroz stated she saw at least six Hemet Police vehicles were in pursuit of the fleeing vehicle.

During the pursuit, Hemet Police Officers requested assistance from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's Aviation Bureau, however due to the inclement weather and low cloud cover, no assistance could be provided at that time.

As the dangerous pursuit continued, which at times was reported to hit 70 to 100 mph, the unidentified suspect was reported to be driving in an extremely reckless manner, without regard to the safety of pursuing officers or other motorists on the windy roadway. Officers advised the vehicle was smoking heavily for at least the last several miles of the extremely dangerous pursuit.

As the vehicle left Sage Road and headed up Red Mountain Road, on-scene reporters Miguel and John held back in the area of Red Mountain Road and Oak Glen Road and watched the vehicle continuing up the windy dirt road before it eventually became disabled on Oak Glen Road.

Immediately after the vehicle became disabled, the driver fled from the vehicle, leaving his female passenger behind. The suspect was last seen fleeing into the darkness of the night

The suspect, who was not captured or immediately identified, was described as a Hispanic male adult, approximately 6' tall, with a bald head and wearing a black tank top. The passenger, who was only described as an unknown race female, was subsequently detained for further investigation while officers used the assistance of a K9 to search the rugged area where the driver fled.

As of this update, no further information is available and this is still an active investigation by the Hemet Police Department.

Special thanks to Hemet News On-Scene Reporters, Miguel Shannon and John Kemp for their excellent instantaneous coverage and information they provide.

Contact the writer: trevor.hemeteyenews@gmail.com