Kings County Sheriff: Man arrested after leading deputies on 100+ mph pursuit in stolen vehicle
Above: Oscar Ayala booking photo | Kings County Sheriff’s Office
A man was recently arrested after leading Kings County deputies on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
On the afternoon of Friday, February 11th, a patrol deputy spotted a stolen 2000 Honda Civic being driven through the city of Avenal and conducted a traffic stop.
The driver of the vehicle, identified as 23-year-old Oscar Ayala, reportedly refused the deputy’s order to show his hands, instead moving around inside the vehicle and demanding to know why he’d been pulled over.
When the deputy told Ayala the vehicle had been reported stolen, Ayala hit the gas and a high-speed pursuit began, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The deputy and, later, responding Avenal PD officers pursued Ayala through Avenal and along northbound State Route 33, with speeds sometimes exceeding 100 miles per hour.
Eventually, Ayala passed onto a dirt access road leading to a place known locally as “Tune Town,” in Coalinga. He eventually lost traction while driving recklessly, but regained control and sped away again just as pursuing officers were getting out of their vehicles.
After several more miles, Ayala lost control of the vehicle again by making a sharp turn, this time causing a police cruiser to slam into his vehicle and resulting in moderate damage, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Ayala was pulled from the vehicle and arrested on suspicion of auto theft, receiving stolen property, and evading an officer with wanton disregard for public safety. He was booked on $95,000 bail.
