A convicted felon and his cohort accused of trying to run sheriff’s deputies off the road during a chase in Moreno Valley before causing a multi-vehicle crash were charged Wednesday with assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and other offenses.
Gabriel Cabrera Jr., 25, and Robert Ortega Valdez, 21, both of Moreno Valley, were arrested Monday following the pursuit.
Along with the assault count, Cabrera is charged with felony eluding of a law enforcement officer, driving under the influence resulting in great bodily injury, three counts of hit-and-run resulting in injuries and a sentence-enhancing allegation of injuring multiple victims in a DUI wreck.
Valdez is only facing the assault charge, and is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
Cabrera is being held on $750,000 bail at the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
The pair were slated to make a joint initial court appearance at the Riverside Hall of Justice on Wednesday afternoon.
According to Sgt. Chad Craig of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, patrol deputies spotted Cabrera speeding in a 2008 BMW sedan southbound on Indian Street, near Dracaea Avenue, at about 10:15 a.m. Monday. Craig said the deputies recognized the vehicle as one involved in a chase days earlier, during which the defendant successfully eluded law enforcement officers.
The deputies initiated a pursuit, during which Cabrera allegedly drove “erratically at a high rate of speed, running stop signs, failing to stop at red lights and driving on the wrong side of the road,” the sergeant said.
Deputies were allegedly targeted by the defendant as he fled, according to court documents.
A sheriff’s helicopter crew took over the pursuit, monitoring the BMW’s movements, observing Cabrera and Valdez allegedly “throwing numerous beer bottles out of the vehicle,” Craig said.
He said several motorcycle units caught up with the vehicle and were tailing it when Cabrera ran a red light and collided with a Ford Ranger at the intersection of Kitching Street and Cactus Avenue.
“The impact of the collision caused the Ford to overturn and collide with two additional vehicles,” the sheriff’s spokesman said.
Cabrera allegedly tried to flee on foot, but deputies ran after him, ultimately apprehending him in a flood control channel. Valdez was taken into custody without incident at the scene of the collision.
Craig said the occupants of the pickup and the other two vehicles suffered minor to moderate injuries. They were taken to nearby Riverside University Medical Center for treatment and are recovering.
Cabrera and Valdez were not hurt.
According to court records, Cabrera has prior convictions for transportation of controlled substances for sale, importation of illegal drugs for sale, possession of controlled substances while armed and receiving stolen property.
Valdez has a prior misdemeanor conviction for vandalism.