Elsinore Pursuit Suspect Locked Up After Crash

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A Lake Elsinore man is behind bars Tuesday, accused of a recent police chase in a stolen car in town. Carlos Chavez Castillo, 30, was arrested on Thursday following the early morning incident.

According to sheriff's officials, officers were "conducting proactive enforcement" around 1:50 a.m. that day in the area of Riverside and Walnut drives when they spotted a red Hyundai SUV that had been reported stolen.

"Officers attempted to conduct an enforcement stop, and a vehicle pursuit was initiated," sheriff's Sgt. James Woodland said in a news release. "The pursuit lasted for several minutes as the suspect drove through the northwest area of the city of Lake Elsinore. The pursuit concluded when the suspect collided with a fence and the vehicle became disabled."

Castillo was arrested at the location and taken to the French Valley jail where he was booked on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, recklessly evading law enforcement and parole violations, Woodland said. His bail was set at $155,000, records showed.

No injuries were reported.

— Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone