Newport Police Jail Fugitive After 2-City Chase, Crash

An armed fugitive who sped off Friday morning from a routine traffic stop led police on a chase through Newport Beach and Huntington Beach, crashed into a patrol car and was finally arrested after ditching his car and running, police said.

Alan Sean Holland, 29, of Huntington Beach was arrested on an outstanding felony parole violation and on suspicion of evading police, handgun possession and hit and run, all potential felony charges, according to Newport Beach Police Lt. Doug Fletcher.

Officer Tom Schomburg pulled Holland over about 9 a.m. near 22nd Street and W. Ocean Front for a traffic violation, Fletcher said. The 10-year veteran officer ran a computer check on the driver and found a parole violation, but Holland drove off before he could be arrested, Fletcher said.

As other officers joined the chase, Holland’s 1980 Datsun ran into a patrol car driven by Officer Dan Reynolds, but neither driver was injured in the collision, Fletcher said. The patrol car had only minor damage, he said.

Other officers, assisted by a police helicopter, continued the chase, which then wound through the streets of Huntington Beach, according to police reports. It ended on Yellowstone Street, where Holland bolted from his car and was tackled by officers, Fletcher said.

Police said they found a .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun in Holland’s pants pockets.

Fletcher said the discovery of the small, easily concealable weapon was an unsettling find in the wake of recent violence against officers. A CHP officer was shot and killed earlier this month during a traffic stop in Fullerton, and a handful of other similar incidents have left California officers injured or dead in recent months.

“We were happy, of course, that the incident ended without anyone being injured,” Fletcher said. “We are encountering more and more firearms during the course of our activities. These days, you never known when you’re going to come across a gun.”

Fletcher also said Holland allegedly told arresting officers that he had been on a monthlong methamphetamine binge and had not eaten for five days. Holland was examined briefly at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and was then booked into Newport Beach City Jail. Because he was in custody on a parole violation, Holland was not eligible for bail. Fletcher said he did not know the nature of the parole violation.