Deputies Recover Gun During Pursuit
A 41-year-old felon who tried to outrun deputies is behind bars after ditching a loaded handgun before being caught.
According to the Kern County Sheriff’s Department, the incident occurred on May 19, at about 11:40 p.m. when the deputies, who patrolling the area of Niles Street and Mount Vernon Avenue in northeast Bakersfield, attempted to make a routine traffic stop.
Deputies said the driver of the vehicle, 41-year-old Jaime Soto of Bakersfield, was driving without his headlights on and was weaving in and out of traffic.
Ignoring the deputies repeated traffic stop attempts, Soto continued driving erratically, leading them on a short vehicle pursuit that ended after one mile near the intersection of Kentucky Street and Descanso Street.
It was at that time that Soto jumped out of his vehicle and took off on foot.
During the foot pursuit, Soto tossed a loaded handgun into the front yard of a house in the 2000 block of Kentucky Street before wrestling with deputies as he was taken into custody.
Soto was booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility for evading a peace office, felon in possession of a handgun, felon in possession of ammunition, resisting arrest, and numerous vehicle code violations.
His bail is set at $60,100.
A sheriff’s spokesperson said the make and model of the gun has not been released pending an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Read More:
ABC 23: Bakersfield man arrested after deputies seize handgun during foot pursuit
The Bakersfield Californian: Suspect arrested following short chase
