Friday, Jan. 27, 2012

Seat belt violation is motorist's undoing

Police give chase, find vehicle is stolen

A motorist authorities said was not wearing a seatbelt led police on a high-speed chase Thursday morning.

Cmdr. Ray Reyna Jr. said officer Sean Bayard attempted to stop a maroon Chevrolet Blazer near the intersection of Bluff and Crescent drives after noticing the driver did not have his seatbelt on. The driver did not stop, leading police on a five-minute pursuit.

The driver, who at times was traveling 90 mph, went through a field near McKinley Court to Pioneer Road. The driver attempted to ram a police car during the pursuit, authorities said. Reyna said the car eventually hit a curb in the 1300 block of South Seventh Street and came to a stop in an alley.

Reyna said police discovered the car was reported stolen in Gustine.

Police arrested the driver, Andrew Lucatero, 28, of Los Banos, on suspicion of failure to yield to an emergency vehicle with disregard for public safety, driving on a suspended license, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of stolen property.

Reyna said Lucatero was wanted for a parole violation, which will prevent him from receiving bail. Police also arrested Lucatero's passengers, Desiree Sousa and Gilberto Arce on suspicion of possession of stolen property.

Arce was also wanted on a probation violation. Sousa is expected to be charged with being under the influence of a controlled substance.

All three are being held at Los Banos Jail.