Father, son arrested in Linda after police chase

A father and son from Sacramento led Yuba County sheriff's deputies on a 100-mph chase Friday after reportedly stealing $110 from an Olivehurst gas station.

Alvin and Almouriea Cox were arrested, but a third suspect got away, according to sheriff's Sgt. Joe Million.

For an unknown reason, the duo smashed the windows of their suspected getaway car before running inside Walmart.

"We are not sure why," Mi lion said. "Neither one would provide that information."

The strange chase started around 10:40 a.m. when three people distracted a cashier at the Tower Mart on McGowan Parkway and stole about $110 from another register, deputies said.

They piled into a vehicle, described as a gold 2007 Suzuki sport utility vehicle, and drove away at high speed down McGowan, Million said. The vehicle made several turns before ending up back on McGowan, where sheriff's deputies first spotted them.

"They were driving at extremely high rates of speed, swerving in and out of different lanes heading into a residential neighborhood and close to a school," Million said.

Deputies backed off the pursuit as the vehicle approached Ella Elementary School in the 4800 block of Olivehurst Avenue.

Principal Rob Gregor saw the vehicle zoom past his school and dialed 911.

"They must have been doing about 90," Gregor said.

All of the 550 students were inside classrooms at the time and were never in danger, he said.

"I'm sure most of the students didn't even know about it," Gregor said. "But I appreciate the Sheriff's Department not chasing them through the school zone for the sake of safety."

Pursuing deputies lost the car after backing off the search.

However, a short time later, a witness called the department to report two men smashing the windows of a gold SUV near an automobile repair shop on North Beale Road, Million said.

It turned out to be two of the same people suspected in the burglary and chase, deputies said. After smashing the windows of the getaway vehicle, both men ran into Walmart, then back out again, Million said.

Alvin J. Cox, 50, was arrested a short time later running in the drive-through lane of Burger King. Almouriea J. Cox, 31, was picked up crossing North Beale Road. Both were booked into the Yuba County Jail.

It was not clear when the third suspect got out of the vehicle, authorities said Friday.

It was the second high-speed chase to end around the Walmart in Linda in as many days. Marysville's Troy J. Matlock was arrested early Wednesday after allegedly leading police and deputies on a chase that also ended in the 1100 block of North Beale Road. Officers said Matlock also ran inside the store after ditching the getaway vehicle.

Alvin Cox, the suspected driver in Friday's chase, was held on $50,000 bail on suspicion of evading police with wanton disregard for safety, conspiracy and petty theft with prior convictions.

Almouriea Cox was jailed without bail on suspicion of petty theft with prior convictions and conspiracy. Million said Almouriea Cox was on parole.

He pleaded no contest to a second-degree burglary charge in 2005 and was sentenced to 16 months in state prison, according to the Sacramento County Superior Court website. In 2008, he again pleaded no contest to second-degree burglary and received a 16-month state prison term.

Deputies described the third suspect as a black male, mid- 20s, about 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches with a medium build.

CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.