Car Theft Suspect Leads Deputies On East County Pursuit

SPRING VALLEY, CA — A car theft suspect led sheriff's deputies on a chase from Jamul to Spring Valley Thursday before flat tires blown out by a spike strip forced him to try to run, authorities said.

The roughly 15-minute pursuit began shortly before 2 p.m., when a deputy checking license plates at Jamul Casino on Campo Road determined a white Nissan Sentra exiting a casino parking lot had been reported stolen, according to sheriff's officials.

When deputies tried to pull him over a short distance from the casino, he sped off, said Lt. William Amavisca.

While fleeing to the north and west, the driver ran over a spike strip that authorities had put on the roadway. With two shredded tires, he continued briefly before pulling to a stop in the 9200 block of Kenwood Drive, where he jumped out of the car and ran, Amavisca said.

Deputies gave chase and captured him a short distance away.

His identity was not immediately available.

– City News Service