17-mile car chase ends in teen's arrest

A 17-mile car chase through residential areas of Linda and Olivehurst ended with a brief K-9 pursuit and the driver in custody Sunday afternoon.

Joseph Jeffries, 18, of Linda, raised the suspicion of a Yuba County sheriff's deputy on patrol in an East Linda neighborhood when he appeared to hide himself from sight within the early 1990s model black Subaru sedan he was driving, according to Lt. Damon Gil.

A license plate check indicated the car had been stolen, and the deputy attempted a traffic stop at 1:53 p.m., Gil said.

For the next 15 minutes, Jeffries, according to scanner traffic, led the deputy and three or four of his fellow officers on a treacherous tour of south Yuba County neighborhoods.

"He was going hecka fast," said Johnny Sanchez, 12.

Sanchez was riding his bike across Grand Avenue with his 10-year-old cousin on the back when he heard the Subaru driver honking from a distance.

He looked up to see the speeding driver motioning dramatically for him to get out of the way as he sped toward the bicycle.

"I told my cousin to jump off and run," Sanchez said.

Jeffries' path included the Edgewater neighborhood in Linda and no fewer than 16 residential streets, during which one of the sheriff's patrol cars gave out and the Subaru lost part of its exhaust system, according to scanner traffic.

Eventually, a collision with a stop sign shattered the suspect's windshield, and engine trouble stalled the car in the 5600 block of Arboga Road.

"The car was smoking," said Elizabeth Hemphill, a resident of an apartment building across the street from the empty lot where Jeffries was apprehended.

"He took off and ran toward the field and then they let the dog out," Hemphill said.

The dog went after Jeffries, who, after running 15 to 20 yards, put his hands up to end the pursuit, she said.

"Nobody was hurt and the suspect was taken into custody," Gil said.

Sheriff's Department officials said they planned to charge Jeffries with being in possession of stolen property, evading arrest, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and having an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

The car theft is still under investigation, according to Gil.

CONTACT reporter Nancy Pasternack at 749-4781.