Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle by ACPD

Dias

   The Angels Camp Police Department has issued a report on the stolen vehicle pursuit of August 20, 2014, when an officer was on patrol around 1:45 AM near the intersection of Copello Drive and
North Main Street (Hwy 49).

   The officer observed the driver of a red 1994 Honda Accord commit two traffic violations; failing
to dim the high beam headlights for an oncoming vehicle and crossing over solid double yellow lines.

   The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop of the Honda, and the driver pulled the vehicle to the shoulder and stopped near the entrance to Grubstake Storage, according to the report.

   As the officer walked towards the vehicle, which was occupied by a male driver and a female passenger, the male driver fled and began driving northbound on Hwy 49.

   The officer returned to his vehicle, activated his emergency lights and siren and began to pursue the

Rife

Honda in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

   Deputies from the Calaveras Sheriff's Office and officers from CHP were called to assist.

   The vehicle failed to yield to the officer and continued to drive erratically and violate multiple traffic laws.

   The pursuit continued through San Andreas, heading west on Hwy 12 toward Valley Springs.

   The driver made a U-turn on Hwy 12 near the Double Springs Monument, and continued east on Hwy 12 and then south on Hwy 49.

  South of San Andreas the driver "blacked-out" the vehicle, turning off all exterior lighting and in the interest of public safety the pursuit was terminated by the Angels Camp Police Department.

   The vehicle was later located abandoned on Hwy 49 near the Calaveras Cement Bridge and determined to be an unreported stolen vehicle from Manteca.

   A search of the immediate area was conducted and 28 year old Escalon resident Lester Dias and 27 year old Manteca resident Melonie Rife were located and arrested.

   As was reported in the Sentinel earlier today, both Dias and Rife were booked into the Calaveras County Jail on charges related to evading a peace officer, vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.