Fort Bragg Officer injured while chasing suspect allegedly under the influence

Report Number: 2015-15383
Coroner Number: N/A
Incident: 2800.3CVC [Evading a Peace Officer Causing Injury], 2800.4CVC [Evading a Peace Officer - Wrong Way Driving], 14601.2CVC [Suspended Driver's License DUI] and 1203.2PC [Violation of Probation]
Location: North Highway 1 at Point Cabrillo Drive, Caspar, California, 95420
Date: 06-27-2015 Time: 12:28 AM

Victims:


Suspects:
Suspect #1:
Name: Johny Delgado
Age: 19
Address:
City/State: Fort Bragg, Ca.



     On 06-27-2015 at approximately 12:28 a.m., Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were traveling south bound on Highway 1 in near the town of Caspar.  Sheriff's Deputies attention was drawn to a white Acura sedan, with equipment violations.  Sheriff’s Deputies began pacing the vehicle and observed it was traveling at approximately 65 MPH, in the posted 55 MPH zone.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Johny Delgado, 19 years of age out of Fort Bragg, turned on to Point Cabrillo Drive from Highway 1.  Delgado had difficulty maintaining the vehicle in his lane of traffic and deputies believed that Delgado was possibly driving under the influence.

     A traffic enforcement stop was attempted at Caspar Beach, but Delgado failed to yield and continued to drive south bound on Point Cabrillo Drive.  Sheriff’s Deputies activated their emergency lighting and siren but Delgado increased his speed to approximately 70 MPH in the residential area of South Caspar.

     Delgado sped to the south intersection of Point Cabrillo Drive at Highway 1, failing to stop for the posted stop sign and turned northbound onto Highway 1.  Delgado continued northbound on Highway 1 at speeds in excess of 120 MPH, until turning east onto Simpson Lane.  Delgado drove east on Simpson Lane at speeds in excess of 90 MPH, and then turned south onto Mitchell Creek Drive.

     Delgado turned onto Franklin Road and continued to Simpson Lane, where he turned west.  Delgado turned back onto Mitchell Creek Drive and then onto Franklin Road again.  Delgado turned west on Simpson Lane again and then turned onto Turner Road.

     Delgado continued on Turner Road until he reached the cul-de-sac at the end.  Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to position their vehicles to block Delgado’s path but Delgado drove around the front of the vehicles, narrowly avoiding a collision into the patrol vehicles.

     Delgado continued east on Turner Road and then across Mitchell Creek Drive onto Franklin Road.  Delgado turned west onto Simpson Lane and drove toward Highway 1.

     Sheriff’s Deputies requested assistance from the Fort Bragg Police Department to have a tire deflation device placed across the roadway.  Fort Bragg Police Officers positioned themselves at the traffic circle intersection of Simpson Lane and Highway 1 with a "stop stick" tire deflation device deployed in the westbound travel lane.  Delgado drove over the "stop stick", which resulted in immediate deflation of the vehicle’s tires.

     A Fort Bragg Police Officer was injured while deploying the tire deflation device and was subsequently treated at the Mendocino Coast District Hospital Emergency Room for his injuries.

     Delgado continued to drive on the flat tires southbound on Highway 1 and then turned onto Old Coast Highway.  From Old Coast Highway, Delgado drove across Highway 1 onto Ocean Drive.  Delgado was traveling at approximately 25 MPH to 30 MPH on flat tires to the dead end of Ocean Drive.  Delgado stopped his vehicle at the end of Ocean Drive and fled into the brush holding a can of beer.

     Mendocino County Sheriff’s K9 "CAM" was deployed and located Delgado a short time later hiding in a small creek.  Delgado was taken into custody without further incident.

     Delgado displayed signs of alcohol intoxication and it was determined that his driving privileges had been suspended and he had been placed on probation for a prior DUI conviction.

     The pursuit of Delgado covered 20.5 miles over a 17 minute period.  Delgado flailed to obey any posted speed limits or stop signs and drove his vehicle in the opposing travel lane at speeds in excess of 100 MPH numerous times.

     Delgado was booked into county jail for violations of 2800.3CVC [Evading a Peace Office with Injury], 2800.4CVC [Evading a Peace Officer – Wrong Way Driving], 14601.2CVC [Driving on a Suspended License for DUI] and 1203.2PC [Violation of Probation], where he was held in lieu of $105,000 bail.