Police Chase Ends On Moreno Valley College Campus

MORENO, CA — A police chase ended on the Moreno Valley College campus Thursday after students directed law enforcement to the suspects' hiding spot, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department confirmed.

The afternoon chase began in San Jacinto when members of the Riverside Auto Theft Interdiction Detail tried to pull over a driver and his passenger who were in a stolen vehicle, according to sheriff's Sgt. Brandi Swan.

Deputies from the Perris and Moreno Valley sheriff stations were called in for the traffic stop, but the driver fled and a chase began.

"A Riverside County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was overhead and observed the suspect vehicle traveling erratically," according to Swan. "Ground units backed off and allowed the helicopter to follow the stolen vehicle from the air."

The suspects drove to Moreno Valley College at 16130 Lasselle St., ditched the vehicle and made a run for it into one of the campus buildings, according to the sergeant.

"Shortly thereafter, students ran out of the building and directed responding units to the suspects' location," Swan reported.

Both of the alleged thieves were found hiding in the school building and were arrested without incident, according to the sergeant.

"No weapons were seen and there were no injuries to the students, deputies or suspects," Swan said.

The suspects' identities were not immediately available.

The flurry of police activity at the campus led some social media users to post, erroneously, that there was an active shooter situation at the school.

"There was not an active shooter incident today," Swan confirmed. "There was never a report of an active shooter and no weapons were ever seen or reported."

Swan said the sheriff's department is "more than prepared for incidents involving schools, and numerous deputies responded to the scene and actively pursued the suspects of the stolen vehicle without hesitation."