MARTINEZ – CONTRA COSTA COUNTY – An Antioch man with a history of trouble with the law was arrested early this morning while driving through Martinez, the East Bay Area town just north of Concord.
Records show that Leonard Covarrubias was arrested in July of 2010 for stealing a car, evading police, driving while intoxicated, possessing stolen property (the car) and violating parole. He had been arrested earlier in 2010 for resisting or obstructing an officer. After serving time for that offense, he was released on AB109 post-release supervision, which was briefly revoked in May of 2013. Out again, in August of 2013 he was arrested once again for vehicle theft, possessing burglary tools, and ammunition, which as a prohibited felon he was not allowed to have.
Then on Friday, February 27 of this year, he was arrested by Antioch Police at the corner of Parsons Lane and East 18th Street, near the Lake Alhambra housing development. He was arrested at 3:30 in the afternoon, and charged with possession of a controlled substance and, once again, ammunition. He was also charged with violating his probation. After he then failed to appear in court, a felony warrant was issued for him.
Damaged police car after the collision with Covarrubias.
That did not keep him from raising suspicion, as a car driving through town at about 3 am will do. According to the Martinez Police in a press release, as he was spotted on the streets of Martinez at 2:51 this morning, a Martinez Police officer took notice, and observed him making an unspecified traffic violation. The officer tried to make a traffic stop, but Covarrubias failed to yield, leading the officer on a pursuit. He headed south, traveling through Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, and finally to Lafayette, where a minor collision with one of the police cars stopped him.
As other officers had joined in the pursuit, K9 officer Poertner released police dog Logan, who made capturing Covarrubias easier. Once identified, the reasons for his attempt to get away became clear – not only did he have the outstanding warrant, but he had a small amount of a controlled substance, which appears to be methamphetamine, and a loaded .45 caliber handgun (not just ammo this time.)
After treatment for injuries he sustained in the capture, Cavarrubias was booked at the Contra Costa County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, evading a peace officer and resisting arrest, and his outstanding warrant.
