High-Speed Chase Through Fair Oaks Results in Jail Time

A Sacramento woman who led authorities on a chase through Fair Oaks earlier this month with her young daughter in the car was sentenced last week to six months in jail.

Debbie Palacios, 44,  was driving a white pickup truck the night of March 6 when Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputies tried to pull her over on Greenback Lane at Sunrise Avenue for unspecified moving violations, according to law enforcement authorities. Palacios, whose driver’s license was suspended for an earlier reckless driving conviction, instead picked up speed when sheriff’s deputies activated their siren lights,  Sheriff’s Spokesman Deputy Jason Ramos said.

According to the sheriff’s report, Palacios sped through four red lights at speeds of 60 to 65 mph, which was more than 20 mph over the posted limit. After a pursuit that lasted for more than four miles, deputies performed what’s called a “PIT” maneuver to stop Palacios' attempted escape.

“‘PIT’ stands for 'pursuit intervention technique,” Ramos said. “It is a means by which an officer uses his/her patrol vehicle to nudge the suspect’s vehicle into a spin, which causes the engine to stall and (hopefully) end the pursuit. It is a required part of cops’ emergency vehicle operations training.”

The deputies performed the maneuver on Greenback Lane at Main Avenue in Orangevale, causing Palacios’ pickup to spin and stall out on the street. Deputies didn’t know at the time that Palacios’ 8-year-old daughter was in the car with her, but learned of the girl when Palacios got out of the vehicle and tried to flee on foot with her daughter. authorities say.

Palacios was arrested soon after without further incident. Her daughter was placed in protective custody and transported to the Children’s Receiving Home, the report stated.

Palacios pleaded no contest March 14 to felony counts of child endangerment and evading a peace officer through reckless driving. According to online court records, her sentence also includes five years of searchable probation.

Attempts to reach her defense attorney and the Sacramento County DA's Office for comment were unsuccessful. Palacios also has two outstanding warrants from Santa Clara County, according to the sheriff's online inmate database. She's projected to be released from the Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center in Elk Grove on Independence Day.