Police Chase Ends With Jail Sentence

A Van Nuys man who led police on a chase through Reseda in November has been sentenced to nearly eight months in jail, authorities said.

Roberto Orellana, 28, was sentenced Tuesday in Superior Court to 240 days in jail after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor charge of evading an officer with reckless driving, said city attorney’s spokesman Mike Qualls.

Orellana also admitted violating his probation from a 1997 domestic violence conviction, Qualls said.

Police ordered Orellana off the Ventura Freeway on Nov. 7 when they discovered he was driving without a license plate registration tag, but he exited the freeway and drove away on Reseda Boulevard, authorities said.

Orellana eventually left his car and fled on foot. He was spotted by helicopter and was later arrested outside a retirement home that he had entered illegally in the 5600 block of Lindley Avenue, Qualls said.

Orellana told police he fled because he thought he was wanted on outstanding warrants, but a state records check found no such warrants, said Deputy City Atty. George Schell, who prosecuted the case.