QUINCY, Calif. – A Sunday afternoon pursuit involving the California Highway Patrol (CHP) ended in the arrest of an Oregon man.
It all started Sunday, January 3, 2021, just after 1 p.m., the Quincy CHP said it received calls of a reckless driver in a Suzuki Grand Vitara. Officers learned the suspect vehicle matched the description of a vehicle earlier pursued by Susanville CHP units in which the vehicle attempted to ram both patrol cars during the pursuit, according to the CHP.
Quincy CHP Officers said they located the suspect vehicle traveling westbound Highway 70, near the town of Beckwourth. Officers attempted to stop the driver, however, the suspect drove off, continuing westbound on Highway 70 west of Grizzly Road.
A spike strip was deployed by CHP Officers and successfully flattened two of the suspect's vehicle’s tires. But the suspect continued to drive westbound Highway 70 through the city of Portola.
The pursuing units utilized the Pursuit Immobilization Technique (PIT) to disable the suspect vehicle. The PIT maneuver caused the suspect vehicle to spin, leave the roadway, and slowly roll over, coming to rest on its wheels on the north shoulder of Highway 70 east of Delleker Drive, said the CHP.
Authorities attempted to remove the suspect from the vehicle. But as officers attempted to take control of the suspect, he accelerated the vehicle toward another officer, who was able to safely move out of the way.
The suspect vehicle came to a stop and officers removed the suspect who was taken into custody without further incident. The suspect sustained minor injuries as a result of the legal intervention PIT maneuver and was transported to the Plumas District Hospital.
Authorities identified the suspect, identified as Randy Lay, of Christmas Valley, Oregon, was placed under arrest for suspicion of assault on a peace officer, felony evading, DUI, resisting arrest, and possession of a controlled substance, according to the CHP. Lay was booked into the Plumas County Jail without further incident.