A driver who refused a traffic stop in Santee turned a routine stop into a roughly hour-long pursuit across East County yesterday, ending when deputies found the vehicle abandoned in Ocean Beach. The green Dodge Charger, which deputies said lacked license plates and may have been stolen, was ditched near Newport Avenue and Venice Street, and the driver ran off on foot. A man matching the suspect's description was later detained about a mile north at Robb Athletic Field.
The incident began shortly after 11 a.m. when a deputy attempted to stop the Charger in a Santee parking lot in the 9400 block of Mission Gorge Road, according to Times of San Diego. Deputies pursued the car across surface streets through Santee, El Cajon and Lakeside before it entered Interstate 8 near Severin Drive in La Mesa. Officials say the pursuit reached high speeds as it headed west toward the coast and that deputies adjusted their response for public safety.
Helicopter Tracking And Safety Measures
Deputies said a sheriff's ASTREA helicopter helped track the Charger while ground units limited engagement to reduce danger to bystanders. The Sheriff's Office notes that ASTREA crews assist with searches, crowd management and other critical incidents and can make loudspeaker announcements when appropriate. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department explains the unit's role in those operations.
Ocean Beach Ditching And Detention
Deputies later located the Dodge abandoned at Newport Avenue and Venice Street in Ocean Beach and say the driver fled the scene on foot, Times of San Diego reports. San Diego police then found and detained a man whose description matched the suspect at Robb Athletic Field about a mile north of where the car was left, and deputies subsequently identified and arrested him. Lt. David Perkins told reporters the helicopter had to pull off the chase because of its proximity to San Diego International Airport, and authorities have not identified the arrested man.
Santee and the surrounding East County have seen similar pursuit responses in recent weeks, and sheriff news releases show deputies balancing aerial tracking with ground unit safety in comparable cases. A March 4 sheriff's news release about a stolen vehicle pursuit in Santee described how deputies and aviation assets coordinate during chases and highlighted theft trends and public safety precautions. The San Diego County Sheriff's Department outlines one such case and provides contact information for tips.
