Woman who led deputies on a chase, standoff in a stolen van charged

Charges of evading arrest and vehicle theft were filed against a Riverside woman accused of leading deputies on a high-speed chase from Thousand Palms to Cabazon in a stolen van, then holding them at bay for about an hour before being taken into custody.

Tessa DeLeon, 38, sped away from deputies about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday after she was spotted in the stolen vehicle near Ramon and Varner roads, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Thomas Brewster.

She drove onto westbound Interstate 10, triggering a chase that reached speeds of more than 100 mph before getting off the freeway in Cabazon, where the vehicle came to a stop but DeLeon refused to surrender, Brewster said. The standoff, which led authorities to block off Seminole Drive near
Malki Road, ended peacefully around 5:20 p.m.

Read: Authorities in High-Speed pursuit of stolen vehicle

In addition to felony counts of evading arrest and vehicle theft, DeLeon faces an allegation of being a repeat vehicle theft offender.

DeLeon also has prior Riverside County convictions for receiving stolen property and possession of controlled substances, according to court records.

DeLeon entered a not guilty plea this afternoon and remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail pending a bail hearing on Tuesday.