High speed persuit ends with arrest

A Desert Hot Springs man suspected of leading a California Highway Patrol officer in a hair-raising chase that reached more than 100 mph on surface streets was arrested, a sergeant said Sunday.

The CHP officer was treated for smoke inhalation at a local hospital and released Saturday after the Chevrolet Malibu that Jesus Sandoval is suspected of driving struck a sport utility vehicle and caught fire, CHP Sgt. Daniel
Hesser said.

The chase began at about 4:15 p.m. when the CHP officer spotted the Chevrolet Malibu going at a rate of 89 mph on eastbound Interstate 10 near Indian Canyon Road. The driver of the mid-size car accelerated to speeds of 100 mph on the freeway when the officer tried catching up with him, Hesser said.

The suspect pulled out of the freeway on the Palm Drive exit and continued speeding up until he pulled over to the shoulder. As the officer tried approaching him, the driver suddenly made a U-turn and headed north on Palm Drive,
reaching speeds of about 110 mph, Hesser said.

The suspect blew a red light at Varner Road and headed east on the two-lane road at about 115 mph before turning north on the southbound lanes of Mountain View Road, Hesser said. The suspect broadsided a Saturn SUV at the
road, the sergeant added.

The suspect fled from the damaged Chevy Malibu that soon caught fire and headed into the open desert. A passerby driving an off-road vehicle offered the CHP officer a ride in order to catch up with the fleeling suspect, Hesser said.

Hesser said the officer tasered the suspect once when he refused to comply with orders to hit the ground.

Sandoval, 24, who had a felony warrant for a domestic violence offense, was treated as a precautionary measure at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Sandoval was booked upon his release for suspicion of felony evading, resisting arrest and other alleged offenses.

The occupants of the SUV experienced a complaint of pain but were not hospitalized.