Man Leads Police On High-Speed Pursuit, Into Ocean: Police

SANTA CRUZ, CA – A Portland man who police said was shooting a handgun into the air and then reportedly committed a car-jacking led authorities on a high-speed chase that reached more than 100 mph. was arrested after ending up in the Pacific Ocean following the pursuit.

Santa Cruz County Sheriff's deputies responded to an area near Waddell and Scotts Creek just past Davenport around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. Not long after John Kenyanjui of Portland reportedly was firing the gun into the air, police said he took off in a stolen vehicle, which police attempted to stop north of Scotts Creek, the sheriff's department reported Tuesday night.

According to police, the suspect continued driving south towards Santa Cruz, reaching over 100 miles per hour, and refused to pull over. The suspect continued into the city limits, down Mission Street where deputies terminated the pursuit for the safety of the community.

Moments later officers from the Santa Cruz Police Department located the vehicle driving on West Cliff Drive where the suspect became involved in a solo vehicle traffic collision near Stockton Ave. A department spokesman said that the suspect drove off of West Cliff Drive following the pursuit, which involved three agencies including the California Highway Patrol, and ended up in the ocean.

Deputies responded to the scene and assisted in taking the suspect into custody without further incident.

Kenyanjui remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail, the sheriff's office said Thursday.

Law enforcement officers are investigating to see whether he was linked to similar Bay Area crimes. Anyone with information is asked to call 831-454-7635.