Local News in Brief : Countywide : Driver Eludes Police at Legal Speed Limit
A Palm Desert man led several patrol cars and a helicopter on a 4-hour chase Tuesday night that began in Malibu, wound through Orange County and ended when he ran out of gas in San Diego.
Bret T. Barish, 30, of Palm Desert was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, driving without a license and evading a police officer. He was jailed in San Diego County but later released, a Sheriff’s Department spokesman there said.
The chase began when a California Highway Patrol officer stopped Barish’s Volkswagen on Malibu Canyon Road at 6:45 p.m. As the officer approached the car, the Volkswagen sped off, CHP Officer Cliff Williams said.
For the next 4 hours, Barish’s car traveled over numerous freeways, chased by patrol cars with red lights flashing and sirens blaring. A Los Angeles police helicopter also joined the chase.
Williams said Barish never exceeded the 55-m.p.h. speed limit.
Barish’s car eventually ran out of gas on Interstate 15, where he was arrested without incident.
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