Photo: Victoria L. Shepherd
CHICO – A long chase in the early morning hours of August 21 ended, of course, with the driver’s arrest. It started around 1:50 a.m. and began in Oroville.
CHP officers pursued a 2002 Acura TL as the chase entered Chico. Deputies deployed spike strips on 99 south of Chico. They worked, sort of. One tire deflated on the fleeing vehicle as it continued on.
The suspect hit a power pole and fence post, but kept going. The downed power line caused a small fire on the shoulder of 99.
The pursuit paused in downtown Chico, for safety reasons. The vehicle “continued to meander through downtown at low speeds.”
Then, when the vehicle drove out of downtown, the pursuit resumed. Chico PD deployed a second spike strip, deflating an additional tire. But the driver continued on still.
35-year-old Victoria L Shepherd drove n the wrong side of the on Esplanade Avenue. Finally, at 2:35 a.m. she hit a curb and then an approaching Butte County patrol vehicle head-on, at low speed. In fact, it was slow enough that the air bags did not deploy.
And also finally, the vehicle became disabled and the chase ended.
While officers released the female passenger with no charges, they in turn arrested Shepherd.
Her charges are felony evading, vandalism and wanton disregard for safety. She was under the influence of drugs.
The BCSO says, “During the investigation, deputies discovered the license plate on the suspect’s vehicle did not belong to the vehicle. Further investigation into the status of the suspect’s vehicle and license plate is pending.”
