RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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Two adults and four juveniles from San Jose were arrested last weekend after leading Santa Cruz authorities on a chase in which the suspect driver struck an officer’s vehicle, leaving them injured, according to police.
Santa Cruz police initially responded at about 4:10 p.m. Saturday to the 100 block of Frederick Street to investigate a reported hit and run. Multiple 911 callers said a driver behind the wheel of a black 2015 Mercedes SUV – later determined to have been stolen from San Jose – was driving recklessly, crashing into other vehicles and “engaging in dangerous behaviors towards individuals” at various locations across Santa Cruz, police said in a statement.
A Santa Cruz police officer eventually found the SUV in a parking lot in the 1700 block of Mission Street and tried to stop the driver, but the driver proceeded to crash into the officer’s vehicle, injuring the officer and disabling their vehicle, police said. The officer was taken to a local hospital with moderate injuries.
Other officers spotted the SUV heading north on Highway 1 toward Davenport and started a pursuit but called it off for safety reasons, police said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office later located the SUV as it was traveling back toward Santa Cruz on Highway 1. A second pursuit started and continued into the city, where Santa Cruz officers utilized spike strips to puncture the SUV’s tires.
The chase continued through the Mission Street corridor, onto Highway 1 and then northbound Highway 17 until the SUV ultimately came to a stop north of Ocean Street, police said.
Two people, including the driver, hopped out of the SUV and ran into a nearby ravine, according to police. The driver was apprehended with the help of a police dog. The second person who fled and the four others, who all stayed with the SUV, were taken into custody.
Police said 26-year-old Fernando Penaloza, 18-year-old Alijah Ruiz and the four unidentified juveniles were arrested in connection with a series of felony crimes, including hit and run, evading, DUI, vehicle theft, and child endangerment, among others.
A second officer was treated for a minor injury they suffered while apprehending the suspects, police said.
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