High Speed Chase Leads Police Through Banning Pass

An assault suspect led Riverside County law enforcement officers on a winding, high-speed chase through the Banning Pass today before he was stopped.

Police said Christobel Saubel, 18, allegedly assaulted a San Jacinto resident about 9:45 a.m. in the 23000 block of Soboba Road, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

He took off in a black BMW with dealer plates and was quickly spotted by sheriff’s deputies, who tried in vain to make him pull over, according to sheriff’s Deputy Melissa Nieburger.

Beaumont and Banning police units joined the pursuit as the suspect headed north into the Banning Pass, then steered back south. There were unconfirmed reports that he was shooting at his pursuers through the car window.

The chase reached speeds in excess of 100 mph on several occasions, according to Nieburger, who said the suspect was forcibly stopped around 10:40 a.m. on Soboba Road, just east of the Ramona Expressway.

He tried to run away, but authorities were able to catch him.

Saubel with a last known address on the Soboba Indian Reservation, was arrested for attempted murder, willful or wanton disregard for safety of persons or property while fleeing from pursuing peace officers, and committing a felony while released on bail.

No law enforcement officers were hurt, she said.