Three suspects were arrested Tuesday after a fraud investigation in San Bernardino led to a police pursuit and traffic collision with injuries, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.
Two of the suspects, a 25-year-old man and a 23-year-old man from San Bernardino, each on felony probation, were seen using a fraud victim’s bank card at a store in Highland before leaving the area in a silver Jeep and driving to a hotel on the 1900 block of Commercenter Court in San Bernardino.
Investigators from the Highland Sheriff’s Station tracked the men to the hotel, where they attempted to detain the 23-year-old man and a 33-year-old Fontana man as they entered the silver Jeep.
The 23-year-old driver reversed the Jeep at high speed, colliding with two patrol vehicles and nearly hitting investigators before fleeing the area, a sheriff’s news release said. A pursuit began west on the 10 Freeway, east of Waterman Avenue, before ending due to safety concerns, officials said in the release.
The suspect was seen driving erratically when he collided head-on with another vehicle on the freeway, before fleeing the scene on foot. A female driver, the sole occupant of the other vehicle, was hospitalized with a leg injury, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Mara Rodriguez said.
Bystanders directed deputies to the two men, who were arrested nearby on multiple charges. A loaded firearm was discovered inside the vehicle, along with possible narcotics, authorities said.
The 23-year-old driver was booked on several charges, including conspiracy, theft, assault with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm. His 33-year-old passenger was booked for possession of a controlled substance, obstructing a peace officer, and felon in possession of a firearm, among other charges, Rodriguez said.
After serving a search warrant at the hotel, the third suspect, the 25-year-old wanted in the initial fraud case, was also arrested on theft and use of access card.
