Fugitive Eludes Officers After Freeway Chase
A suspected bad-check writer kept at least a dozen sheriff’s patrol cars and a search helicopter busy near Victoria Avenue on Thursday, as he drove the wrong way on the Ventura Freeway and eluded authorities.
The incident began about 2:45 p.m. when Ronald Houston, 45, of Santa Paula fled as deputies attempted to arrest him in Montalvo on felony warrants of suspected forgery and drunk driving, said Sheriff’s Capt. Rod Thompson.
The deputies chased Houston’s Chrysler LeBaron, but it careened onto the southbound lanes of the Ventura Freeway heading north, Thompson said. The car went the wrong way for about half a mile until Houston exited the freeway at Victoria Avenue, Thompson said.
No accidents were reported as a result of the wrong-way maneuver, Thompson said.
Minutes later, officers spotted Houston’s vehicle on Valentine Road near Victoria. They surrounded the area, but were unable to capture Houston, calling off the search about 4 p.m.
Houston was described as wearing a white baseball cap, light-colored shirt and blue jeans.
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