November 25 – VENTURA After midnight on a Monday, the streets of Ventura normally carry only the lightest of traffic. Given that reality, any car cruising the city’s thoroughfares in the wee morning hours is likely to be observed by any patrolling police black-and-white in the vicinity.
This is exactly what happened at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Telegraph Road when, according to the Ventura Police Department Watch Commander’s report to the media, “a patrol officer saw a vehicle commit a traffic violation” on the east side of town. As per routine, a traffic stop attempt ensued.
But breaking away from the routine, the suspect vehicle suddenly accelerated down the empty street in a transparent attempt to evade law enforcement and the chase was on. Quickly reaching speeds in excess of 70 mph, the suspect vehicle led the pursuing black-and-white through the city and into the unincorporated area of Ventura County and abruptly came to a halt, whereupon the suspect driver—Mauricio Yepez, a 21-year old resident of Oxnard—alighted from the vehicle and proceeded to demonstrate his running speed.
By then, the pursuing officer had called for backup resources and was soon joined by other patrol units as well as K-9 “personnel” who generally like nothing more than an opportunity to hunt down and chase a fleeing suspect. Ultimately, Yepez was tracked to a residential backyard in Saticoy, where he was subdued by the K-9 unit and taken into custody. Yepez was then transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked on charges of possessing a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and evading arrest.
No stranger to the county lock-up, Yepez was arrested just three weeks ago on similar charges. He was booked on Halloween night for vehicle theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of a controlled substance and a drug without a prescription. He faced a milder charge of being under the influence back in September as well.
