HEMET: Two men elude officers, one woman arrested, after stolen vehicle pursuit
HEMET — City of Hemet police officers are investigating after two men managed to elude capture when they fled from a stolen vehicle at the end of a pursuit, Thursday, Sept. 28. Two women who had been inside the stolen car during the pursuit were detained and one was later arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Two women were detained at the end of the pursuit. One was later arrested for an outstanding warrant. Robert Carter/Public Safety Incidents photo
The incident began when a victim reported to officials that their white Acura Integra sedan had just been stolen.
Within minutes of the reported theft, officers spotted the stolen vehicle and attempted to stop the car, which was occupied by two men and two women. The driver of the car, described as a Black or Hispanic male, refused to yield and accelerated away from officials, at which time a vehicle pursuit was initiated.
The short pursuit came to an end when the driver lost control of the car and jumped the curb at the intersection of S. Inez Street and W. Acacia Avenue. As the car came to rest two men fled on foot, disappearing into the surrounding neighborhood. Two female passengers from inside the stolen car were immediately detained.
Officials converged on the area and established a perimeter around the neighborhood in an effort to locate the two men who fled from the car. Over the next hour, officers were seen going door to door and searching both front and back yards during their search. Riverside County Sheriff’s aviation crew members in “Star-9” assisted with the search from above.
Curious area residents who came out of their houses to view all the police activity and film the scene with their cell phones were advised to return to their homes and lock their doors, while officials continued their search.
Despite their efforts, officers did not immediately locate the two men.
Officers later conducted a records check and determined one of the two female passengers had an outstanding warrant and she was subsequently arrested.
The stolen car was later returned to its owner and the investigation is active and ongoing.
Anyone with information about the incident or who knows the identity of the two men who fled from the car is encouraged to contact Hemet Police Department at (951) 765-2400. Callers can remain anonymous.
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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 27 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 14 grandchildren.