Chase Ends as Stolen Vehicle Rams Tree

An Oxnard man driving a stolen utility vehicle led Ventura County sheriff’s deputies on a wild chase between Camarillo and Moorpark on Monday, which ended when he crashed the vehicle in an orchard, authorities said.

Deputies arrested Robert Ramirez, 20, on suspicion of auto theft after Ramirez rammed the vehicle into a tree and attempted to flee on foot, said Sgt. Ken Cozzens. The chase began shortly after 2 p.m. when deputies received a call from a witness who saw a green Chevy Suburban with torn ignition wires leaving a gas station in the 600 block of Las Posas Road in Camarillo. The vehicle had been stolen from a private residence in Oxnard, Cozzens said.

Deputies found Ramirez driving the Suburban on Lewis Road in Somis, Cozzens said. When the driver saw the deputies, he took off heading east on California 118, Cozzens said.

Two deputies’ cars followed the Suburban to Moorpark, where three sheriff’s units and a helicopter joined in the pursuit.

Ramirez then fled the Moorpark area and headed back to Somis, traveling west on Broadway. Cozzens said the 15-minute chase ended when Ramirez crashed the Suburban into an orange tree in the area of Stockton Road and Broadway while attempting to maneuver a tight turn at high speed.

Ramirez then leaped out of the vehicle and ran into the orange orchard, where he was apprehended on foot by Deputy Bill Schierman, officials said.

Ramirez was not injured in the crash.