By Barbara Arrigoni
The Chico Enterprise-Record
ORLAND, Calif. — A high-speed vehicle chase from Hamilton City to Orland early Saturday left a suspect at large and an Orland Police car damaged.
Glenn County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Miranda said the incident began shortly after midnight when Deputy Josh Brazzi responded to a call for service in Hamilton City.
Miranda said Brazzi saw a black Nissan Maxima run a stop sign and turn in front of him. The vehicle almost hit a metal fence. The suspect continued driving erratically and almost hit a parked car.
Brazzi activated his overhead light and attempted to make a traffic stop. Miranda said the vehicle started to slow down, but then took off, running through stop signs.
The suspect then drove onto Highway 32 and headed toward Orland, with speeds ranging from 80 to 110 miles per hour.
Brazzi pursued, and the suspect’s speed at Papst Street was clocked at 110 mph.
In Orland, Brazzi followed the suspect through various streets, with the vehicle continuing to run through stop signs at high speed.
“He had a complete disregard for public safety,” Miranda said.
Other officers joined the pursuit, including Orland Police Officer Terry Baker.
When the suspect turned south onto A street and into an alley, Baker went to the other end of the alley to cut off the vehicle, while Brazzi continued following behind the suspect.
In the alley, the vehicle slowed down to about 5 mph and the suspect jumped out.
He then jumped over a fence and fled. Brazzi exited his patrol car and followed the suspect.
Meanwhile, the empty vehicle kept moving and plowed head-on into Baker’s car. Miranda said the both cars sustained minor damage, and to his knowledge Baker wasn’t injured. Miranda said all units converged and set a perimeter around the area. Glenn County Deputy Kristy Akers and a patrol dog were unable to locate the suspect.
Miranda described the suspect as a Hispanic man who appeared to be short and thin. The suspect has dark hair and a mustache, and was wearing a striped shirt and gray or black pants. The sergeant said he could not release the suspect’s name because the incident is under investigation.
He also said officers have no idea why the suspect fled.
The vehicle is registered out of Talmage, and the suspect is thought to be from out of the area.
The pursuit ended at about 12:16 a.m., but the entire operation, including a search of yards and outbuildings lasted two hours, he said.
During the highway chase, the suspect passed no fewer than five vehicles.
Miranda said there is normally a lot of traffic on Highway 32 between Hamilton City and Orland at that time of night on Friday and Saturday.
California Highway Patrol out of Willows and Orland Police Department assisted in the incident.
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