Wild Police Chase, Shooting, Crash Detailed By Murrieta Cops; Pair Arrested

MURRIETA, CA — Two suspected gang members accused of shooting at a patrol car while leading police on a high-speed chase remained jailed Monday. The chase began at 2:35 a.m. Friday near Los Alamos Road and Hancock Avenue, when an officer attempted to pull over a pickup truck suspected of being involved in several recent burglaries, said Lt. Ron Driscoll of the Murrieta Police Department. However, the two men inside sped off with the truck's headlights off, he said.

The duo hightailed it west on Los Alamos Road and continued on Jefferson Avenue and Kalmia Street, which becomes California Oaks Road, police said. As they neared Saradella Court, the driver leaned out of the truck and allegedly "fired multiple gunshots" at the pursuing officers, hitting one of the patrol cars, Driscoll said. The pursuit continued for another 5 miles south on Clinton Keith Road, then east on Whitewood Road, which turns into a dirt road and dead ends.

The truck then smashed through a fence at the end of the road and turned onto Keller Road, according to Driscoll. The dust kicked up by the truck caused officers to temporarily lose sight of the truck, but they found it shortly after, abandoned on Keller Road just south of Tracey Avenue, he said.

Inside the truck — later discovered to have been stolen from Temecula — police allegedly found a handgun, as well as several stolen items, Driscoll said. Officers then searched the surrounding area for the suspects with the aid of police dogs and a heat-sensing helicopter. At 5:45 a.m., after a three-hour manhunt, authorities received word that someone was ringing doorbells in the 29000 block of Goldenstar Way, according to Driscoll.

Officers dispatched to the area found one of the suspects, Fernando Alonso, 26, of Menifee, hiding in a backyard among trash cans. Alonso allegedly resisted when officers attempted to arrest him but was eventually subdued with the help of a police dog, Driscoll said. Alonso, along with two officers, were injured in the scuffle, he said, although the extent of their injuries was not disclosed. Alonso was booked into the Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of several crimes, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and attempted murder of a police officer. He remained jailed in lieu of $1 million bail.

The second suspect was not found during the search, but officers learned that a vehicle had been stolen just east of where the pursuit ended, according to Driscoll. At 6:30 p.m., investigators learned that sheriff's deputies from the Perris station had arrested the second suspect, Jose Juan Perez Rodriguez, 32, of Menifee, and located the vehicle stolen following the pursuit. Rodriguez was held without bail at the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of violating parole and attempted murder of a police officer.

By City News Service / Images via Murrieta Police Department