Just before 2 a.m. Thursday, Pinal County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to stop a reckless vehicle in the 1700 block of W. Hunt Highway. The vehicle, a silver Jeep Cherokee, exited a private drive and came close to striking a vehicle on the road. The Jeep continued driving and was observed driving above the posted speed limit. The deputy initiated a traffic stop. When a deputy tried to stop the Jeep, the driver accelerated and attempted to elude the deputy in the Rancho Bella Vista neighborhood. The Jeep continued driving recklessly in nearby neighborhoods, damaging the landscaping at several homes.
After a few minutes of flight, the Jeep drove onto a dirt road and the deputy lost sight of the vehicle. Moments later, a second deputy in his patrol car in the area and observed the Jeep travelling at a high rate of speed toward the patrol vehicle from the opposite direction. The Jeep struck the left front of the patrol car as it passed at a high rate of speed, causing damage but no injuries. The suspect vehicle was able to elude immediate apprehension, yet deputies quickly located the Jeep in a driveway near the registered owner’s address. The suspect-driver was not located. The Jeep was impounded as evidence.
Sheriff Paul Babeu said, “I’m glad no one was injured by the reckless behavior of this suspect. We are hopeful that someone in the area saw the person driving this vehicle and can help us identify him.”
The wife of the registered owner of the Jeep was contacted by deputies soon after the incident. She reported the Jeep had been stolen by an unknown person sometime during the night. The registered owner was not at home when the deputies were at the house.
The driver of the vehicle has not been located as of this writing. The PCSO is asking if anyone has information that would help identify the driver of the vehicle, to call PCSO at 520-866-5111.