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Driver gets away after chase by police on Atwater streets
[February 05, 2013]

Driver gets away after chase by police on Atwater streets


ATWATER, Feb 05, 2013 (Merced Sun-Star (Merced - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Police are on the lookout for a man who led officers in a vehicle pursuit late Sunday.

Just before 11:30 p.m., officer David Walker was on routine patrol when he received information from a resident about a stolen vehicle from Atwater, according to Lt. Sam Joseph.

The officer spotted someone driving the stolen Toyota Corolla in the 600 block of Elm Avenue.

The officer tried to pull over the Corolla, but the driver wouldn't stop.

The driver was going about 65 mph through a residential area, failing to obey stop signs, Joseph said.

The pursuit continued east on Broadway Avenue from Shaffer Road, with the Corolla traveling about 75 mph.

The vehicle turned into the Ranch Grande Mobile Home Park at 851 E. Broadway Ave., traveling through the mobile home park at high speed, Joseph said.

With the Corolla still rolling, the driver jumped out and fled on foot.

The vehicle crashed into a boat parked outside one of the trailers.



Officers pursued the man on foot, but he escaped.

During the foot chase, one of the officers injured his knee, Joseph said.


Police are trying to determine the identity of the driver, described as about 25 years old.

The man was wearing an orange California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation jacket, which was later discovered and booked into evidence.

Joseph said it's unknown why the man was in possession of the jacket.

The vehicle was returned to the owner, Joseph said.

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