Sheriff’s Office: Man used stolen vehicle to ram deputy’s car while trying to evade arrest
FORT BRAGG — A Mendocino County man was arrested after allegedly leading deputies on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On the afternoon of February 23, a deputy noticed a vehicle with expired registration parked at the intersection of North Highway 1 and Oak Street. After running the plate and discovering the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Glenn County, the deputy followed it to the 400 block of South McPherson Street and attempted to pull the driver over.
The driver, later identified as 21-year-old Jose Alfredo Huerta, sped away. The ensuing chase took them to a cul-de-sac, where Huerta found himself cornered by the deputy’s patrol vehicle. At that point, Huerta reportedly made a U-turn and used his car to ram the deputy’s patrol vehicle.
Huerta then sped off again, veering into oncoming traffic and speeding through intersections without stopping until, at last, he stopped the vehicle on the 800 block of South Franklin Street and fled on foot.
By this time, Fort Bragg police officers had joined the pursuit and, together with deputies, apprehended Huerta shortly thereafter. He has since been booked at the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of felony reckless evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, and committing a felony while on pre-trial release.
No injuries were reported during the pursuit or arrest, the Sheriff’s Office said.
