Murrieta Police Tase Man After Running Onto Cal Oaks Road

MURRIETA, CA- A Lake Elsinore man is back behind bars Tuesday, after allegedly fleeing from cops who were trying to question him, police say.

According to Murrieta Police Lt. Tony Conrad, 59-year-old Ben Douglass was first spotted in front of the 7-Eleven store on California Oaks Road on March 15. When a police officer tried to detain the "suspicious" man, he allegedly took off running.

"A foot pursuit ensued and ultimately ended in the #2 westbound traffic lanes of California Oaks Road," Conrad said in a news release.

Both the officer and suspect were injured in an ensuing scuffle, Conrad said. So that's when police deployed a Taser.

"Further investigation revealed the suspect, Mr. Ben Douglass, a PRCS (Post Community Supervision Release) probationer for assault, had an extensive criminal history for narcotics and theft," Conrad said. "In addition, Mr. Douglass was wanted on a no bail felony warrant for assault and PRCS violation."

Douglass, who lives in Lake Elsinore, was taken to the Murrieta jail on charges of petty theft and resisting arrest, jail records indicate. He was booked on $5,000 bail.

Police say Douglass is an AB109 probationer.