Driver Flees, Is Later Arrested, CHP Says

The California Highway Patrol arrested an Ojai man on suspicion of evading arrest early Tuesday morning after he allegedly ran from an officer who pulled him over.

Officers believe 22-year-old Jesse Crockett ran after he was pulled over because he was driving on a suspended license, authorities said.

“We guess that he just didn’t want to get caught on a suspended license, but he just made matters worse,” said Officer Dave Cockrill, a spokesman for the CHP in Ventura.

An officer tried to pull a 1977 Datsun driven by Crockett over on California 150 near the summit about 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, but Crockett sped away, drove into an orchard and then jumped out of his car and ran, Cockrill said.

A tracking dog picked up his scent and followed him as far as a road, where witnesses said they saw him catch a ride.

But soon after the chase, the Sheriff’s Department received a call from Crockett, who said his car had been stolen. When CHP officers arrived at Crockett’s home, one of the officers positively identified him as the man who ran from the Datsun and into the orchard, Cockrill said.

“The officer got a very close look at him during the chase,” he said.

Crockett was booked into the Ventura County Jail and released late Tuesday. His car was impounded.