Felony charges are expected to be filed Thursday against a probationer who allegedly led Murrieta police on a three-mile pursuit through the city in a stolen vehicle that ultimately crashed at an intersection, injuring eight people including himself.
Ricardo Avila Perez, 31, of Perris was arrested last week on suspicion of felony evading, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, possession of methamphetamine for sale, auto theft and probation violations.
Perez was not booked into jail at the time due to his injuries. However, he was medically cleared by doctors at Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar on Tuesday, after which he was transferred to the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside, where he’s being held without bail.
Murrieta police have submitted the suspect’s case for review by the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office.
The pursuit happened shortly before 11 a.m. on March 5, beginning less than a block from the Murrieta Police Department, at Jefferson Avenue and Juniper Street, according to a police statement.
The agency said Perez was passing through the intersection when he committed an unspecified traffic violation, prompting a patrol unit to initiate an enforcement stop, discovering in the process that the sedan had been reported stolen.
“As officers approached the vehicle to make contact with its two occupants, the driver of the stolen vehicle sped away,” the police department stated.
Patrol officers went after him, and Perez slowed down as if he intended to surrender but didn’t, and the chase continued northbound, police said.
“The pursuit continued on city streets, subsequently ending when the suspect vehicle ran a red light at the intersection of Nutmeg Street and Jackson Avenue, colliding with three other vehicles,” police said.
Six people in the three vehicles involved in the collision suffered non-life-threatening injuries, along with Perez and the woman in the vehicle with him, according to authorities.
The parties’ identities were not released.
All were taken to Inland Valley Medical Center for treatment. Along with Perez, they’re recovering.
Jail records show he has prior convictions, but they weren’t listed.