MODESTO, CA - An armed carjacking suspect led police on a wild high speed pursuit through the Central Valley Saturday morning, reaching speeds over 100 miles-per-hour.
According to Modesto Police Lt. Rick Armendariz, the chase began as a traffic stop when a Modesto police officer spotted a vehicle connected to a Friday night carjacking in Ceres.
The suspect did not pull over, but sped off, starting a chase down the country roads on the outskirts of Modesto.
Armendariz said California Highway Patrol officers joined the pursuit, which reached speeds over 100 miles-per-hour.
The pursuit took officers east on Patterson, then south on Geer Road, where police officers had spike strips waiting for the suspect.
Armendariz said the chase continued at 60 mph down Golden Gate Boulevard into Turlock, even though the suspect was driving on bare rims.
During the pursuit, CHP officers saw the suspect reaching towards the floor boards of his car, leading them to believe he was armed.
The chase finally ended in Merced County on South Bound Highway 99 at the Bradbury exit, where the suspect lost control of his damaged car and rolled down an enbankment.
The suspect sustained minor injuries from the crash and was taken into custody without incident, Armendariz said. A handgun was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
Civilian traffic was never an issue, as the pursuit stuck to lightly traveled country roads. No officers were injured in the chase.