Domestic Dispute Sparks High-Speed Pursuit

CORRALITOS—The Watsonville Police Department assisted in the arrest of Monterey resident Ralph Samuel Brooks Jr. after he took them on a high-speed pursuit through the county.

Ralph Samuel Brooks

Last Tuesday at noon, Watsonville Police were advised that a 2007 white Ford van was headed their way via Highway 152.  The driver was reportedly wanted in a domestic dispute that turned into a high-speed pursuit in Morgan Hill, and was later identified as Ralph Samuel Brooks, 51, of Monterey.

At 12:23 PM, Officer Ayala of the Watsonville Police Department spotted the vehicle heading westbound near Airport Boulevard. As soon as Brooks realized he’d been made, he bolted.

The high-speed pursuit lasted for six miles through various roads of West Watsonville, and ended when Brooks tried to make a right turn onto Merk Road and crashed into an apple tree because of the high speed.

“This started as a domestic dispute as officer spotted the white van and female standing outside of it, then the van sped off at a high rate of speed,” Morgan Hill Police Captain Shane Palsgrove stated. “The victim was uncooperative with us but we pursued him on the stolen vehicle charges, which we were notified of when we ran the license plate of the white van.”

Brooks fled on foot after the crash.  Officers quickly set up a perimeter with the assistance of the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol.  The search lasted for about an hour, and Brooks was eventually found hiding in the area under low growing tress along an irrigation ditch.

Brooks was taken into custody without further incident. He was charged with vehicle theft, evading police, hit and run and resisting arrest.  He was also charged on a $200,000 warrant for unrelated drug charges.

Read more:

Watsonville Patch: Multi-County Crime Spree Ends With Crash into Apple Tree

Santa Cruz Sentinel: Monterey man arrested after six-mile chase in South County