Gang member arrested after crashing stolen car

A man was arrested early Saturday morning in Banning after trying to evade police officers in a stolen car.

According to officers with the Banning Police Department, 30-year-old Michael Allen Leonard, a parolee and alleged gang member, stole a car near Wilson Street and Sunset Avenue around 4:40 a.m.

A Lo-Jack notification was sent out to officers and they spotted Leonard driving eastbound on Wilson Street.

Officers said Leonard sped off after they tried to pull him over. The suspect ran stop signs and a red light but police remained on his tail.

When Leonard was driving westbound on Ramsey Street, he tried to turn north on Omar Street and lost control of the vehicle, according to police.

He ended up crashing into a large tree and tried to escape on foot.

Police said they arrested him shortly after. Leonard was taken to the hospital for minor injuries stemming from the crash. He was then booked into the Larry Smith Correctional Facility in Banning.

Authorities said he’s facing charged of felony vehicle theft, reckless evading of a peace officer and violation of his post release community supervision.

He’s being held without bail.