It took a the efforts of three law enforcement agencies to
arrest a Hollister man, allegedly armed with a handgun, who led
them on a wild car chase in and around the city Tuesday
morning.
It took a the efforts of three law enforcement agencies to arrest a Hollister man, allegedly armed with a handgun, who led them on a wild car chase in and around the city Tuesday morning.
Filberto Ramirez, 35, of Locust Avenue, was arrested on suspicion of evading police, illegal possession of a firearm, resisting arrest, injuring a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, the San Benito County Sheriff’s department said.
Ramirez, who is being held in lieu of $66,000 bail, allegedly led sheriff’s deputies, Hollister police and California Highway Patrol officers on a car chase reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.
The incident started at about 1 a.m. when a CHP officer was citing a motorist on Highway 25 and reportedly saw a dark-colored car streak past, headed toward Hollister at an estimated speed of nearly 100 mph, the sheriff’s department said.
The CHP officer put out an alert to local law enforcement to be on the lookout for the vehicle, and at approximately 1:30 a.m. a sheriff’s deputy spotted a black 1982 Honda that fit the description on Fairview Road near the Cielo Vista area and tried to stop the car. But the driver sped away at speeds ranging between 70 and 80 mph, the sheriff’s department said.
The chase reportedly wound west through the Sunnyslope area and looped over to Sunset Drive. In his desperation to evade police, Ramirez reportedly crashed through a pair of wooden street-closure barriers, the sheriff’s department said.
Hollister police and the CHP joined the chase as Ramirez drove the badly damaged Honda back to Airline Highway and cut over to Enterprise Road, where he reportedly lost control of the car as he saw police closing in around him and skidded off the road into an orchard, the sheriff’s department said.
Ramirez’s alleged attempt to escape through the orchard came to an abrupt stop when his car crashed into some metal pipes, the sheriff’s department said.
Ramirez, who was still not ready to surrender, jumped out of the car and fled on foot with several police officers running after him, the sheriff’s department said.
While Ramirez was running through the orchard, he reportedly tossed away a handgun he was carrying, the sheriff’s department said.
A moment later, police tackled Ramirez and as they attempted to restrain him he reportedly broke an officer’s fingers as he thrashed about, the sheriff’s department said.
