3 in stolen truck lead deputies on pursuit through – below Perris
Sean Hughes was arrested following a vehicle pursuit through and below the city of Perris
PERRIS – Two subjects in a stolen truck led deputies on a wild chase through city streets, in flood control channels and through the cities underground drainage tunnels, according to Riverside County Sheriff Sergeant David Douglas. Two people allegedly involved in the incident were taken into custody following the pursuit. A third, female passenger was detained, but later released.
The incident began at 10:18 a.m., on March 31, when deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Perris Police Station responded to the report of a possible theft occurring at a business, located in the 1800 block of North Perris Boulevard.
While investigating the report, deputies attempted to contact two occupants of a a 1999 Ford F250 with paper plates, that was believed to be involved in the theft. The driver of refused to stop and fled the area at a high rate of speed. Pursuing deputies temporarily lost sight of the vehicle, which was later located by a sheriff’s helicopter in the Mead Valley area near Cajalco Road and Clark Street.
A female passenger exited the vehicle and was detained by responding patrol deputies. She was later released.
The driver and a second passenger continued to flee while the helicopter crew followed from overhead. The truck continued to the area of Perris Blvd. and Nuevo Road, in the city of Perris, where the driver reportedly made two separate attempts to ram a deputy’s patrol car.
Andrew Yanez was arrested following a vehicle pursuit through and below the city of Perris
The suspect continued to evade deputies and eventually drove through a fence at the intersection of Redlands Avenue and Citrus Avenue. After smashing through the fence, the truck came to rest in a flood control channel adjacent to the intersection.
Once in the flood channel, the driver accelerated into a tunnel under the roadway and briefly disappeared from view of the helicopter. Several deputies surrounded the area and established a perimeter, in order “to contain the various avenues of escape within the flood control channel system,” according to Douglas.
Redlands Avenue between Citrus Avenue and Orange Avenue was temporarily closed, while numerous deputies converged on the area and searched for the truck and the two suspects.
Multiple K9 teams responded to the location and tracked down the suspect vehicle after it entered the cities underground drainage system. Deputies eventually located the truck in a tunnel under the roadway. Upon being discovered, the two occupants exited the truck and fled on foot, heading deeper into the cities drainage system.
Deputies conducted a records check that revealed the truck had been reported stolen from the city of Menifee.
At about 3:50 p.m., more than five hours after the incident began, two subjects matching the descriptions of the outstanding suspects were seen exiting the flood control channel. Deputies apprehended the two alleged suspects at Medical Center and Avocado Avenue.
Deputies identified the two men as Sean Hughes, 24, and Andrew Yanez, 21. Both are residents of Perris.
Deputies arrested Hughes and Yanez and transported them to the Southwest Detention Center, where they were booked for a variety of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, felony evading, obstructing a peace officer, possession of stolen property, and petty theft.
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