CHULA VISTA–An adult male and female who led Sheriff’s deputies on a vehicle pursuit in Chula Vista were arrested Friday night, authorities say.
Deputies arrested 32 year-old Hector Rafael Areu and 22 year-old Lorena Valadez in Chula Vista.
Sheriff’s deputies received a report of a stolen Honda Accord at the Palomar Trolley Station located at 601 Palomar Street in Chula Vista. A deputy observed the vehicle parked at the location. The driver of the vehicle, Areu, was sitting in the driver’s seat and was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The vehicle suddenly began to leave the parking lot.
Deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle, but Areu ignored the lights and sirens and started driving away at a high rate of speed. During the pursuit, Areu went through a turn at a high rate of speed and did not apply his brakes. This turn caused his front left tire to blow out. When Areu’s vehicle came to a stop, he got out of the vehicle and disregarded deputies’ orders to stop and continued to run away from deputies.
With the assistance from the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD) and ASTREA deputies located Areu in a nearby apartment complex. Areu ran away and got into a maroon colored sedan driven by Valadez. She reversed the vehicle at a high rate of speed and did not stop when officers activated their overhead lights and sirens.
Valadez drove at a high rate of speed away from pursuing officers and began to drive recklessly. She finally stopped the vehicle on northbound Interstate 805, prior to the Olympic Parkway exit in Chula Vista. Valadez was detained near her car, but Areu fled on foot. Areu jumped over a fence and hid in a two story storage shed in the backyard of 1552 Ocala Avenue. Areu refused to come out, but was apprehended by officers. Areu was taken into custody for auto theft and for evading police officers. Valadez was arrested for harboring a felony suspect and for evading officers.
There were no reports of injuries related to this incident.
