SANTA CRUZ—A Salinas man wanted for a robbery in Salinas – and a DUI in Morgan Hill – was arrested Sunday in a new DUI case for allegedly crashing into several parked vehicles after a brief chase.
Christopher Dicochea, 23, a convicted felon, was also in possession of a loaded and stolen 9mm handgun, Santa Cruz Police spokeswoman Joyce Blaschke said.
Dicochea was charged with DUI causing injury, possession of stolen property, evading an officer and carrying a weapon in a public place. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail, jail records showed.
According to Blaschke, police responded to a report about a reckless and suspected DUI driver in the area of Seabright Avenue and Murray Street around 5:30 p.m.
A patrol unit caught up to Dicochea’s black Ford Mustang near Broadway and San Lorenzo Boulevard. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop; the driver pulled over, but as the officer exited the patrol car, the driver sped away, Blaschke said.
The officer pursued Dicochea eastbound on Broadway, and the pursuit ended when Dicochea struck several parked cars and a street sign at Riverside and Soquel Avenue, Blaschke said.
He then ran to the east levee toward San Lorenzo Park, where two SCPD rangers arrested him.
A male passenger in the car suffered a leg injury.
