Rupert Michael Gil
Santa Barbara police and a county helicopter chased a stolen vehicle Friday morning and arrested the driver on the city’s Westside.
The incident began shortly after 10 a.m., when a patrol vehicle from a Santa Barbara County sheriff received a LoJack alert about a stolen vehicle in the State Street and Highway 154 area, according to Anthony Wagner, spokesman of the Santa Barbara police department.
The deputy tried to stop the vehicle, a red Cadillac, but the driver fled into the city.
The chase took place from the Mission Street area, to La Cumbre Road, via the freeway, and then along Modoc Road to Westside.
According to emergency radio traffic, the driver turned on several red traffic lights, so officers driving in pursuit retreated and caused a county helicopter to follow the vehicle.
The chase ended on an empty lot on the 1800 block of San Pascual Street, where the suspect got out of the vehicle and was arrested at gunpoint moments later, Wagner said.
The suspect was identified as Rupert Michael Gil, 18, of Santa Maria, Wagner said.
Gil was incarcerated in Santa Barbara County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, crime to evade arrest, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drugs.
Please check back with Noozhawk for updates on this story.
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