Driver eludes Hemet officers after pursuit, forgets ID in car
An officer checks the trunk of the Monte Carlo that fled from Hemet PD officers. William Hayes photo
HEMET – A man and a woman led Hemet Police officers on a dangerous, high-speed pursuit. Thursday, June 23. The pursuit began at about 4:45 a.m. when an officer with the Hemet Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle.
Although the driver managed to elude pursuing officers after he fled on foot from the vehicle, he inadvertently left his driver’s license when he fled from the vehicle. Based on his identification, officers determined the man was a wanted felon.
Officers have not yet publicly identified the driver, who left his female passenger and his ID in the vehicle. Officers detained the woman without incident and she was later released.
The incident began when an officer attempted to stop the vehicle, a white Chevy Malibu, after observing a vehicle code violation. The driver failed to yield and the officer initiated a vehicle pursuit.
The early morning pursuit during rush hour traffic became too dangerous for officers to continue pursuing. William Hayes photo
The driver fled eastbound on Whittier Avenue at a high rate of speed. He drove without regard for the safety of citizens or pursuing officers, failing to stop at stop signs, driving on the wrong side of the road and making erratic driving maneuvers in his attempt to elude officers.
Because of the highly dangerous actions of the driver and out of concern for public safety, officers backed off and kept a large enough distance between themselves and the suspect’s vehicle.
Once officers had backed off their pursuit, the driver turned southbound on Girard Street, immediately stopped and fled on foot from the vehicle, leaving the girl and his driver’s license behind in the vehicle.
With the suspect’s driver’s license collected as evidence, officers are continuing their investigation.
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