An Antioch thrill-seeker's joyride in a hot rod has just led to a cold cell. According to the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, Artis Chavez Crenshaw, Jr., 33, was convicted by a jury for his escapades involving possession of a firearm and recklessly driving a stolen vehicle across Contra Costa County.
The charges against Crenshaw stem from a July 1st incident when he allegedly boosted a car in Antioch. When spotted by officers the next day, what followed was no chase but a high-octane pursuit clocking in at 115 mph as Crenshaw played a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse across highway lines. His bid for freedom saw him weave through traffic before state troopers and the unforgiving teeth of a spike strip attempted to rein him in.
The chase, which spanned 23 miles and lasted 16 pulse-pounding minutes, came to a halt at the San Marco Boulevard exit in Bay Point. When law enforcement finally nabbed Crenshaw, they didn't just recover the stolen car but also found an AR-style pistol, adding an illegal firearm possession charge to his list of adrenaline-fueled crimes.
Currently awaiting his fate, which could be up to four years and four months in state prison, Crenshaw is scheduled for sentencing. The big day is slated for March 1 before Judge John Cope at the Arnason Justice Center in Pittsburg.
