High speed pursuit suspect escapes police
Police in Cathedral City searched today for a man who escaped on foot after leading them on a chase in a stolen pickup truck believed to have been involved in several pursuits over the last two weeks.
An officer spotted the white Ford F-350, which had no license plates, in the area of Melrose Drive and Kings Road around 8:10 p.m. Tuesday and tried to pull it over, but the driver hit the gas instead, said Cathedral City police Sgt. Julio Luna.
Driven as fast as 75 mph, the truck hit a stop sign and chain link fence during the seven-mile, nine-minute chase over city streets, Luna said.
The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled into the desert area north of Ramon and Rattler roads, he said.
Officers assisted by a Palms Springs K9 unit, California Highway Patrol officers, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies and U.S. Border Patrol agents were unable to locate the suspect, Luna said.
The truck had been reported stolen in Cathedral City and was believed to have been involved in several chases over the past two weeks, he said.
The suspect is described as Hispanic, 18-25 years old with close-cut dark hair. He was wearing a dark shirt and pants, Luna said.
Anyone with information about the suspect was urged to call Cathedral City police at (760) 770-0300.
