Cypress Man Is Named as Chase Suspect

The taxicab driver who police say led them on a high-speed chase in which he drove the wrong way on the freeway and caused at least two accidents has been identified as John Joseph DeLacy, authorities said Sunday.

Anaheim police arrested DeLacy, 58, of Cypress, Saturday night on charges of evading police, felony hit and run and violation of the city’s municipal code. He was booked into City Jail where he remained Sunday in lieu of $25,000 bail, Sgt. Jim Moser said.

Code enforcement officers looking for cabdrivers illegally picking up fares saw DeLacy drop off a customer at Disneyland and recognized him as a driver who operates without an Anaheim license, police said.

The officers tried to pull DeLacy over about 8 p.m., but he fled north on the Santa Ana Freeway against the southbound traffic, Moser said.

He said that Anaheim police chased DeLacy for about an hour on the Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Riverside freeways, at times reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph, and on side streets, where he ran several red lights.

DeLacy caused at least two crashes, police said, including one at Magnolia Avenue, where he used his car to push another car out of his way to reach the freeway. No one was hurt.

DeLacy finally stopped on the Riverside Freeway at Gypsum Canyon Road and surrendered without a fight, police said.