Carjacking suspect leads officers on a chase - right to state prison (Tehachapi, CA)

tehachapinews.com ^

[chance33_98]

Carjacking suspect leads officers on a chase - right to state prison

Speeds of 100 mph reached on Highway 202

News Staff Report

The high-speed pursuit of a carjacking suspect ended Wednesday night in Tehachapi when the fleeing Little Rock man found that Highway 202 ends unexpectedly-at the gates of CCI in Cummings Valley.

A suspect who is evading arrest seldom leads a procession of law enforcement vehicles right to a state prison, but then not many highways dead-end at a correctional facility. Tehachapi is an unusual place.

The incident began about 11:30 p.m. when a Kern County sheriff's deputy noticed a car weaving through westbound traffic on Highway 58 headed towards Tehachapi.

Believing that the driver might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, the deputy turned on his emergency lights. The driver then fled at a high rate of speed.

The deputy engaged in a pursuit while running a check on the license plate of the vehicle. The search revealed that the car had been stolen in a carjacking at a Lancaster-area gas station.

The suspect, Steven Lee Harriman, 18, allegedly kidnapped a woman at knifepoint from the gas station. Sheriff's officials said Harriman had the woman drive him to a location where he released her and then drove off with her car.

As the pursuit sped towards Tehachapi, quick thinking on the part of a local deputy may have prevented tragedy. Knowing that the suspect might exit Highway 58 at Tehachapi, deputy Tim Posey alerted construction crews working at the intersection of Tehachapi Boulevard and Tucker Road and kept the intersection clear.

While still speeding westbound on Highway 58, Harriman turned off the headlights of the stolen vehicle and then exited at Tucker Road.

He then raced up to Highway 202 and turned right, heading towards Cummings Valley at speeds that reached 100 miles per hour-a frightening thought to local residents accustomed to traveling the valley's main east/west thoroughfare.

The chase ended when the suspect ran out of road at CCI. Law enforcement authorities blocked the exits and isolated the stolen vehicle.

Sheriff's officials said that Harriman then held a knife to his throat, threatening to harm himself. After about 15 minutes and some counseling from veteran deputy Dave Cord, Harriman was convinced to drop the knife and surrender.

Harriman was taken to Tehachapi Hospital for treatment of minor self-inflicted cuts to his forearm, according to sheriff's officials.

He was later booked in Kern County on charges of evading arrest. A hold was also placed on him by the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, who intend to charge him with carjacking and kidnapping.

[xJones]

The high-speed pursuit of a carjacking suspect ended Wednesday night in Tehachapi when the fleeing Little Rock man found that Highway 202 ends unexpectedly-at the gates of CCI in Cummings Valley.

A suspect who is evading arrest seldom leads a procession of law enforcement vehicles right to a state prison, but then not many highways dead-end at a correctional facility. Tehachapi is an unusual place.<

Isn't this wonderful? He didn't stop for a jail, he went straight to prison.

[chance33_98]

The area surrounding that prison is beautiful too. Those inmates have a wonderful view.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Home of the THE Tehachapi LOOP!

[chance33_98]

And previous home to me :)

[AVNative]

That's what happens when you think you know your roads here in the greater Antelope Valley - including Tehachapi! The fact that California State Route 202 ends at CCI is a well known fact among caring and aware locals, but to the transient crime types, "Stupid is as stupid does," as Forrest Gump would say. . .

The apostle Paul gave sage advice: take heed where you stand lest you fall. Fall this criminal did!

Thanks for the local news chuckle of the week, chance!

[Fester Chugabrew]

Visited your neck of the woods in '92 to watch trains. A long way from home for me. May never have that chance in life again. Never knew a correctional center was nearby.

[Poohbah]

Go directly to jail, do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

Just damn ping!

[dirtydanusa]

And some lawyer will fight for a reduced sentence because he saved the tax payers money by driving himself to jail!!!

[AVNative]

Fester, glad you enjoyed your visit while here. We have a website about the Tehachapi Loop you and others may enjoy - http://www.tehachapi.com/loop/

Down the page there's a blue hyperlink saying "click here" on the last paragraph of the story. This link will give you a current picture of what's happening at the loop at the moment - live!

Even though I can visit the loop anytime since I live here in the Antelope Valley, you still can see what I see via the Internet site I mention above. Enjoy!

[AVNative]

And no "Get Out of Jail Free" card from Chance or Community Chest!!!

Just to think, I now realize I probably taught this guy at Littlerock High School (or at the very least, Los Angeles County Office of Education - LACOE, the "bad boy" school). Now he has even more time to hopefully learn a lesson he'll never repeat: the Los Angeles & Kern County Sheriff's deputies win, and criminals lose. Crime never pays!

Kern County deputies have had some interesting chases lately. Remember a little over a year ago about the two high school girls that were kidnapped by the Quartz Hill water tower? (Which was the big Amber Alert of 2002) Kern County deputies got that man, too - shot him dead. Criminals have got to learn to especially don't mess with the Kern County deputies. . . they don't mess around!!!

[Poohbah]

Well, I passed through Kern and Inyo Counties on vacation this year.

Inyo County is the home of:

Inyo School
Inyo Car
Inyo House
Inyo Town

and, of course...

Inyo Face! (c8

[AVNative]

Not to mention:
Inyo Station
Inyo (Post) Office

but perhaps most importantly for educators. . .

Inyo Mind

And I guess you've also been to Inyokern, as well!