Driver Attempts To Hit Officers: CHP

CAPITOLA, CA – A Santa Maria man was arrested early Sunday morning in Capitola after he allegedly led officers on a brief pursuit and then attempted to strike one of them with his vehicle, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officials said 39-year-old Joshua Robert Mitchell was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, driving under the influence and felony reckless evasion after a short vehicle chase
that started when he refused to pull over for a traffic stop.

According to the CHP, Mitchell led officers on a brief one-minute pursuit just after 12:10 a.m. Sunday in a 1995 Jaguar XJ6 before stopping his vehicle in a parking lot near 426 Capitola Ave.

As officers exited their vehicle to approach the Jaguar, Mitchell made a U-turn and accelerated toward the right side of the CHP patrol vehicle, forcing one of the officers to get back inside of it to avoid being
struck.

At that point, the officers pursued Mitchell again, only to see him make a second U-turn and this time collided with the patrol vehicle head-on, CHP officials said. Mitchell then attempted to run away on foot but was captured and taken into custody after a brief struggle with officers.

Both the officers and Mitchell were treated at hospital for their injuries. Mitchell was then booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on $100,000 bail.

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--Bay City News/Image via Renee Schiavone, Patch