An Arizona man was arrested in Blythe after leading deputies on a pursuit into Arizona, where he allegedly rear-ended a patrol vehicle, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced Saturday.
Deputies from the Colorado River Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team responded to a report of a stolen vehicle traveling along Highway 95 in Blythe at around 2:15 p.m. Friday. The vehicle and suspect were traveling southbound on Highway 95 near Eighth Avenue when deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver allegedly sped away and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle entered Interstate 10 and traveled into Arizona before exiting the freeway and continuing onto dirt roads near the Colorado River at Frontage and Oxbow Roads, authorities said. Deputies attempted to make a U-turn to change direction, and the suspect allegedly rear-ended the patrol vehicle and continued eastbound along Frontage Road.
The vehicle became disabled and came to a stop near Ehrenberg-Cibola Road and the suspect, identified as 43-year-old Justin Jellerson of Kingman, Arizona, was taken into custody without further incident.
Jellerson was subsequently booked into the Blythe Jail on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading, assault on a peace officer and possession of a controlled substance.
Neither the deputies nor the suspect was injured in the crash.
Anyone with additional information about the case was encouraged to contact Deputy Moreno at 760-921-7900.