Woman hits several vehicles during dangerous Riverside pursuit

RIVERSIDE – Riverside Police officers arrested a woman May 31, after she led them on a dangerous pursuit through the city of Riverside. The pursuit began after the woman allegedly fled from a minor traffic collision.

During the chase, the woman struck a number of occupied vehicles. She was eventually taken into custody after she rear-ended another vehicle and fled on foot from her disabled vehicle. No other motorists were injured during the incident, according to a police official.

After she was apprehended, officers identified the alleged suspect as Gloria De Leon, a 33-year-old transient from Sun City. She was later booked into jail, charged with two felonies and four misdemeanors related to the dangerous incident.

Officers were in the area of the 5200 Block of Van Buren Boulevard when they were flagged down by a citizen at about 5:45 p.m., regarding a hit and run that had just occurred. The victim of the hit and run provided officers with a description of the De Leon’s car and the vehicle’s last known direction of travel.

Gloria De Leon was arrested after hitting several cars during a dangerous pursuit in Riverside.

The officers immediately began searching for the suspect and located the vehicle near a nearby Wal-Mart shopping center. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but De Leon refused to yield and sped away in her car. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit and chased the fleeing woman.

During the pursuit De Leon was involved in two more hit and run collisions; however she continued fleeing. De Leon drove without regard for the safety of other citizens or pursuing officers during the wild pursuit.

The chase eventually ended at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Polk Street when De Leon’s car smashed into the rear of another vehicle that was stopped at the intersection.

After De Leon’s vehicle became disabled, she attempted to flee on foot from pursuing officers. As officers caught up to De Leon she surrendered to them and was taken into custody. Officers arrested her without further incident.

A jail records search revealed De Leon was booked into the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and recklessly evading arrest; both felonies. She was also booked for four misdemeanors, including possession of a controlled substance, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, hit and run and petty theft.

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