Rape suspect leads cops on chase

An East Linda man wanted on suspicion of raping a 17-year-old girl and violating parole led officers on a three-hour foot pursuit before he was captured, a Yuba County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman said Monday.

Jesse Megel Perez, of Country Club Court, was awaiting arraignment Monday in Yuba County Superior Court on charges of rape by force or fear and penetration with a foreign object. He is being held on $100,000 bail.

The pursuit began shortly before 3 p.m. Friday when a deputy on patrol recognized Perez and his car on McLaughlin Way in East Linda. Perez abandoned the car and ran toward Linda Elementary School, she said.

After eluding almost 20 deputies, a Sutter County Sheriff's Department K-9 team and a California Highway Patrol helicopter, Perez was found hiding in a vacant house on Happy Way in East Linda.

Perez complained of being winded, said spokeswoman Melanie Oakes.

The alleged rape occurred in July at the victim's residence in the 1700 block of Linda Avenue. The victim was described as an acquaintance of Perez's.

Contact Appeal reporter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appeal-democrat.com