SOLEDAD — Law enforcement officials from seven agencies assisted in the arrest of four Watsonville gang members Saturday night following a chase that began in Soledad and ended near Watsonville High School, after the suspects threw four handguns out the windows of the vehicle.
According to the Greenfield Police Department, officers saw a Yukon SUV commit a traffic violation at about 7 p.m. on May 14, but when they tried to stop it the suspects fled north on Highway 101 at more than 100 miles per hour.
As the suspects fled, they threw a 9mm Polymer P80 “ghost gun,” a Smith & Wesson M&P .40 Shield, a Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm Shield and a Glock .40 handgun, all of which were recovered.
The pursuit continued through Salinas and into Watsonville, coming to an end near Watsonville High School, where the driver smashed into a wood fence in the front yard of a home on Blackburn Street.
Residents reported seeing police helicopters assisting with the incident.
The occupants jumped out of the moving car, and fled from the vehicle. Officers pursued on foot, and the vehicle came to a stop after hitting a fence. Four suspects were apprehended, and no one was injured during the pursuit.
The suspects had outstanding arrest warrants, and were booked into Monterey County Jail and Juvenile Hall.
In addition, a mother of one of the juvenile suspects allegedly attempted to assist her son in fleeing from police by driving to the scene while intoxicated. She was taken into custody for DUI.
Watsonville, Salinas, Soledad and Gonzales police departments assisted with the chase, as did California Highway Patrol ground and air support as well as Santa Cruz and Monterey County Sheriff’s Offices.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Lerma at 601-8376 or Sgt. Mattke at 233-1302.
