Ex-con who led cops on two-city chase pleads guilty
A parolee who led police on a chase through Riversidethat triggered three crashes — including one involving a patrol car — pleadedguilty today to felony and misdemeanor charges.
Stanley Niles Head, 29, of Riverside was arrested on Feb. 26 after aroughly half-hour pursuit that began in Moreno Valley and ended near UCRiverside.
A preliminary hearing was scheduled in the case today before RiversideCounty Superior Court Judge John Molloy. But prior to the hearing gettingunderway, the defense and prosecution announced a plea deal, under which Headacknowledged guilt on two felony counts — vehicle theft and reckless driving –as well as two misdemeanor counts — spousal abuse and resisting arrest.
In exchange for his plea, the District Attorney’s Office agreed to dropa felony charge against Head of receiving stolen property.
Molloy scheduled a sentencing hearing for June 18, when he’s expected tocertify the terms of the plea agreement and impose a seven-year prison term. Head remains held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Robert Presley Jail inRiverside.
Riverside County sheriff’s deputies began chasing the defendant, who wasat the wheel of a stolen sedan, around 5 p.m. on Feb. 26 in Moreno Valley.
Deputies followed him northbound on the 60 freeway until he exitedUniversity Avenue and drove around the backside of the UCR campus at nearly 70mph, authorities said.
Riverside police officers took over the chase at 5:15 p.m. on UniversityAvenue. Head raced through stop lights and signs, clipping a vehicle at 14thStreet and Sedgewick Avenue, police alleged.
As he circled back to the University corridor, the parolee ran intoanother vehicle at 11th Street and Ottawa Avenue. A pregnant woman was amongthe car’s occupants, but she declined medical treatment, according to Riversidepolice Lt. Chuck Griffitts.
He said during the chase, a patrol unit and a pickup truck collided atOttawa and University. One of the two officers in the unit suffered minorinjuries and was treated and later released from Riverside Community Hospital.
Around 5:35 p.m., Head drove over a spike strip that officers deployedat University and Kansas avenues, causing the stolen car to become disabled.Griffitts said the parolee and two passengers were taken into custody without astruggle.
The passengers were questioned but not arrested.
According to Griffitts, Head committed a domestic assault a few hoursbefore the pursuit and was wanted for questioning in connection with thatincident when he stole the car.
According to court records, the defendant has prior felony convictionsfor robbery, illegal possession of a concealed firearm and possession ofcontrolled substances.
