COACHELLA – Car thieves evade arrest by driving off road, leading to not only their arrest, but the discovery of another stolen vehicle and apprehension.
Thursday September 4 at approximately 1:00 pm, a stolen Honda speeding down the area of Ave 45 and Harrison St. was spotted by a Coachella Police. When the deputy attempted to stop the Honda, the driver refused to pull over and sped away. The officer pursued the vehicle and called for assistance.
California Highway Patrol and additional law enforcement arrived to aid in the investigation and apprehension of the suspects. In an effort to continue evading authorities, the driver of the stolen Honda ran the vehicle off road in the area of Ave. 66 and Martinez Road.
Once off the road, the driver stopped the vehicle and the three occupants exited, fleeing on foot into a date palm grove. Despite their efforts at hiding in the palms, all three occupants of the Honda were apprehended. Christopher Gonzalez, 25 of Mecca, Tracy Guadalupe, 19 of Mecca, and a 17-year-old male juvenile of Palm Springs were all apprehended and arrested.
During the efforts to locate these three suspects, authorities found themselves tracking a second vehicle, also a stolen Honda. Again deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but this driver also sped away. This second vehicle was brought to a halt on 86 Expressway near Avenue 81 when the Honda became disabled. The driver of the vehicle, Francisco Diaz, 23 of Mecca, was arrested for vehicle theft.
No injuries occurred as a result of either of these pursuits and there were no vehicle collisions, although speeds in both pursuits reached above 100 miles per hour at various times.
Anyone with information regarding either of these incidents they are encouraged to call the Thermal Sheriff Station at (760) 863-8990.
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