COUNTYWIDE : Boy, 16, Held After Car Theft, Chase
A 16-year-old Santa Paula youth led police on a 75-mile chase that ended near Lompoc early Saturday, authorities said.
The teen-ager, whose name was not released because of his age, was arrested on suspicion of stealing a car, driving under the influence of alcohol, evading arrest and possessing a deadly weapon, police said. He was being held at Ventura County Juvenile Hall.
The chase began after Ventura Police Officer Matt Shepherd saw a car without its headlights on speeding out of a gas station at 1717 S. Victoria Ave. in Ventura, police said.
The driver went through several red lights as Shepherd tried to pull him over and then drove onto the Ventura Freeway, police said.
The chase, which approached 100 m.p.h. in some spots, ended west of Lompoc about 2:25 a.m. Saturday after a spike strip was laid across the road to puncture the tires of the car, police said.
Police said the suspect is a Santa Paula gang member who is on probation for being under the influence of drugs, possession of burglary tools and resisting arrest.
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