ICYMI: Handcuffed DUI Suspect Takes Off In Patrol Car, Leads Cops on Chase, CHP Says

PHOTO: Law enforcement officers surround a crashed CHP patrol vehicle after a man suspected of DUI allegedly stole it, and crashed it. Screenshot via ABC 10 News. Scroll down for video from the scene.

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A San Diego man is facing serious charges Tuesday night, after officials say he stole a marked California Highway Patrol vehicle and led officers on a chase.

It all started around 3:10 p.m. on Interstate 15 in Temecula, CHP Spokesman Officer Mike Lassig tells Patch.

An officer responded to the southbound side of the freeway, just south of Temecula Parkway, for a two-car crash that 25-year-old Aaron Teruya had been in, according to Lassig.

“During the questioning, the CHP officer determined that the suspect had been DUI, and the CHP officer placed Teruaya under arrest,” Lassig told Patch by telephone Tuesday evening.

The suspect, who appeared to be fully cooperating with the CHP officer at this time, was then placed into his marked vehicle.

“From there, the CHP officer handcuffed him, searched him and placed him in the right front seat of the CHP patrol vehicle,” Lassig said.

At that point, the officer finished speaking with the other party involved in the crash to get their statement, and sent them on their way. Next, the officer began to impound Teruya’s Ford Focus, according to Lassig.

That’s when the incident took a turn.

“The tow truck driver brought it to the officer’s attention that the suspect had moved from the passenger seat to the driver seat,” Lassig said. “He then then began driving southbound on I-15.”

The CHP officer then hopped in the tow truck with that driver, to follow Teruaya while calling dispatch for backup, according to Lassig.

The chase continued south into San Diego County.

“The suspect vehicle turned on a dirt road off of Highway 76, and [Teruya] eventually crashed the CHP patrol vehicle, getting high centered on a large rock,” Lassig said.

Upon getting stuck on the rock, the man took off on foot into the heavy brush surrounding the crash site. CHP officials called on support from the San Diego Sheriff’s Department, along with multiple police helicopters and K9 officers, to track the man down, Lassig said.

“With a joint effort, we were able to locate the suspect hiding in the brush area north of SR 76,” he said.

It was 5:49 p.m. when the man was ultimately taken into custody-- two hours after he stole the vehicle, Lassig said.

He’s now facing charges of DUI and vehicle theft at a minimum, according to the CHP, who is continuing their investigation.

As for why the man was in the front seat in the first place?

Lassig tells Patch that there are many CHP units without cages in the back and cooperative suspects are often placed in the front seat next to the officer.

“This particular highway patrol car didn’t have a cage to put him in the back seat, so therefore we place them in the right seat,” he said, adding that “...if we have a combative person, then we call for backup.”