HEMET – Wanted Felon Leads Officers On Dangerous High Speed Pursuit Before Crashing And Being Captured

December 13, 2015 Trevor Montgomery

Trevor Montgomery

HEMET – On Dec. 12 a wanted felon led police on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle before crashing and fleeing on foot. The suspect was captured and arrested a short time later.

At about 11:30 p.m., a Hemet resident called the Hemet Police Dispatch Center to report his car had just been stolen from the 100 block of E. Stetson Ave.

Two Hemet Police officers were patrolling in the area and observed the just-reported stolen vehicle being driven through the parking lot on the northwest corner of Stetson and State St. The officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle but the driver accelerated at a high rate of speed, fleeing North on State St. then East on Johnson Ave.

As the vehicle attempted to elude pursuing officers, the driver continued through several residential streets, without regard for the safety of pursuing officer or citizens in the residential neighborhoods he was in. The driver committed numerous, dangerous traffic violations before crashing into a mailbox in front of 700 Lorraine Ln.; at which time the stolen vehicle became disabled.

Upon crashing the stolen vehicle, the driver exited the car and fled on foot Northbound into the backyard of a residence. Multiple officers converged on the area, quickly establishing a perimeter to capture the suspect.

With assistance from Hemet Police K-9 Mac, the officers were able to locate the suspect hiding in the backyard of a home in the 700 block of Lorraine Ln. Once located, officers took the suspect into custody, without further incident.

The suspect was identified as Felipe Romero, a 36-year-old resident of Vista. Romero was arrested and later booked at Hemet PD Jail before being transported to the Southwest Detention Center. Romero’s charges included vehicle theft, receiving stolen property, hit and run, resisting arrest, being a felon with prior convictions and being a habitual criminal. In addition to Romero’s charges, he had an outstanding, out-of-county, felony, no-bail warrant for a previous vehicle theft.

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