Man Arrested After Low-Speed Chase

A 37-year-old Ventura man led authorities from three law enforcement agencies on a low-speed chase from Santa Paula to Ventura on Thursday morning after he stole a car parked in front of a methadone clinic, authorities said.

Silverio Rocha would not pull over for police officers and finally rammed the stolen 1981 Mercury into a Ventura police car at Telegraph Road and Wake Forest Avenue in Ventura, Ventura Police Sgt. Bill Bogner said.

The chase started about 7 a.m. at 7th and Main streets in Santa Paula when a Santa Paula police officer responding to the report of a stolen car spotted Rocha driving west on Telegraph Road.

The officer followed with his lights flashing but Rocha refused to stop, driving at 35 to 40 mph the whole time, officials said.

Deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department joined the pursuit as the car left Santa Paula, and the Ventura Police Department picked up the trail when the chase entered that city.

At Victoria Avenue and Telegraph Road, Rocha stopped for a traffic light but officers were unable to get him out of the car, Bogner said, adding that when the light changed, Rocha started driving again.

At Telegraph and Wake Forest, across from Buena High School, officers using their patrol cars blocked the road.

The stolen vehicle struck one of the patrol cars and stalled, but Rocha would still not leave the car, Bogner said. Officers were forced to break a window and haul him out, he added.

No one was injured in the incident, and Rocha was booked at the Ventura County Jail on felony evading arrest and car theft.