CHP Nabs Sacramento Man Hiding in a Tree

By Bay City News Service

Officers arrested a Sacramento man suspected of car theft Monday night after a car chase led to a chase on foot and ended with the suspect up in a tree in unincorporated Solano County, California Highway Patrol officials said.

CHP officers first spotted the 1997 Honda Accord with paper license plates speeding westbound on Interstate Highway 80 east of Midway Road at about 10:30 p.m., CHP officials said.

Officers attempted to stop the car but the Honda allegedly sped away, exited at Midway Road, and continued to evade the pursuing CHP units at high speeds, according to the CHP.

Officers pursued the car on county roads until the Honda swerved into a ditch on Pleasants Valley Road, south of Cantelow Road, the CHP said.

The driver, a 24-year-old man, allegedly left the car with its four passengers and ran into a field east of Pleasants Valley Road. A CHP helicopter was brought in to assist with the search, CHP officials said.

With the help of night-vision goggles, Infrared, and Nightsun, pursuing officers allegedly discovered the suspect hiding in a tree, about 30-feet above the ground, according to the CHP.

Further investigation revealed that the Honda had allegedly been stolen out of Rocklin earlier on Monday, CHP officials said. The suspect was arrested and booked into Solano County Jail and is facing charges of auto theft, evading a peace officer, and being a parolee at large. The suspect allegedly had a warrant out of Yolo County for a prior stolen vehicle incident.

Editors note: an earlier version of this story carried an inaccurate headline. Pleasants Valley Road is located in Vacaville. Please send all corrections to the editor at carlos.villatoro@patch.com