A 36-year-old transient woman was arrested Friday after allegedly leading San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies on a roughly 30-mile pursuit in a stolen pickup truck, a chase that stretched from Apple Valley across the High Desert to the community of Lenwood near Barstow. Jeanene Snyder was driving a stolen 2014 Ram pickup when deputies tried to pull her over, and she failed to stop, according to authorities.
According to VVNG, the truck had been stolen from the unincorporated Apple Valley area near Deep Creek Road and Rock Springs Road, and Apple Valley Police Station deputies were notified at approximately 9:17 a.m. that the pickup had been reported stolen. When deputies attempted a traffic stop, the pickup failed to stop for posted traffic control signals, kicking off a pursuit that began on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Chase Crosses Jurisdictions at Triple-Digit Speeds
The pursuit continued toward Barstow as the pickup reached speeds exceeding 100 mph and crossed into opposing lanes of traffic, the outlet's report states. The driver failed to yield to deputies throughout the chase, prompting a coordinated response across multiple law enforcement agencies as the pursuit moved deeper into the High Desert corridor.
Victor Valley Sheriff's Station deputies joined the pursuit, followed by Barstow Sheriff's Station deputies and California Highway Patrol officers, per the same account. The involvement of three separate sheriff's stations reflects the multi-agency response as the pursuit moved across the region. Lenwood is an unincorporated community, according to San Bernardino LAFCO.
Pursuit Ends Near Lenwood, No Injuries Reported
Deputies located the pickup near Corwin Road and Wintun Road before the pursuit ultimately ended near Birch Road and West Main Street in Lenwood, where Snyder was detained. No injuries resulting from the pursuit were reported, the article notes.
Snyder will be booked on two outstanding warrants once she receives medical clearance for an unrelated condition, the report states. She is expected to face allegations of reckless evading under California Vehicle Code 2800.2 and possession of a stolen vehicle under Penal Code 496d.
What the Charges Could Mean
Reckless evading under CVC 2800.2 may be charged as a felony or misdemeanor, and a felony conviction carries a state prison sentence of 16 months, two years, or three years, along with formal probation and fines of up to $10,000, according to Eisner Gorin LLP. Under the statute, willful or wanton disregard for safety is established if a driver commits three or more point-assignable violations, such as exceeding 100 mph, running red lights, or crossing into oncoming lanes — and prosecutors do not need to prove actual injury or property damage occurred to secure a conviction, per Cron Israels and Stark.
Separately, possessing a stolen motor vehicle under Penal Code 496d is also a wobbler, carrying up to one year in county jail as a misdemeanor or up to three years in jail or prison as a felony, according to Shouse Law Group. That statute specifically penalizes knowingly buying, receiving, or possessing a stolen vehicle, distinct from the act of stealing it.
A Recurring Pattern in the High Desert
This is not the first high-speed pursuit involving a pickup truck to rattle the Apple Valley area this year. In August, Hoodline reported that Apple Valley deputies pursued a 36-year-old man driving a Dodge Ram pickup who later ditched the vehicle and tried to flee on a dirt bike.
The region's roads remain a persistent hazard even without pursuits factored in, while national data show that speeding-related crashes caused 11,288 deaths in 2024, accounting for 29% of all U.S. traffic fatalities, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data relayed by the City of San Bernardino.
Vehicle theft remains an issue in California and San Bernardino County.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Apple Valley Police Station at (760) 240-7400 or sheriff's dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Tips can also be submitted to We-Tip anonymously by calling or texting 844-909-3006.
