Ventura PD K9 deployed after pursuit of stolen vehicle — Suspect found hiding in tree

pharmacy arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;”>On June 28th, Tuesday at 7:03 the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from an off-duty police officer reporting that he observed what he knew to be a stolen Ford Raptor pickup in the parking lot of Jack in the Box on Citrus Dr. in Ventura.  The vehicle had been stolen out of Santa Paula.  The officer also identified the subject driving the stolen vehicle as Nick Wilson, a wanted felon.  As officers were arriving on scene, Wilson had gotten into the vehicle and started leaving the area. 

Officers saw the vehicle stopped on Citrus Dr. near Wells Rd, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.  Wilson failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. 

The pursuit continued, and proceeded to enter westbound on highway 126.  Wilson exited at Kimball Rd., and then continued on several streets on the east end of the city.  He ultimately began driving on Northbank Dr.  While on Northbank, officers briefly lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Northbank Dr. and Montgomery.  Officers then found that Wilson had collided into several parked vehicles near the corner of Potomac and Northbank, and fled on foot.

The pursuit covered a distance of approximately 10 miles, with speeds reaching a maximum of approximately 100 mph.  During the course of the pursuit, Wilson failed to stop for several red lights and stop signs.   

Shortly after the collision, residents began calling dispatch, reporting that Wilson was running through their backyards in the 1700 block of Powell Dr.  Officers set up a perimeter and began a yard to yard search for Wilson, using the assistance of a Sheriff K-9 Unit.

While officers were in the process of the search, dispatch received a call that Wilson had discarded a loaded rifle out of the vehicle while he was being pursued.  The weapon was found by a resident in the 1500 block of Antelope Ave. in the Todd Ranch condos.

Approximately 15 minutes into the search, Wilson was found hiding in a tree in the 1700 block of Potomac.  He was taken into custody without incident.

After being medically cleared for injuries he sustained as a result of the accident, Wilson was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony evading, possession of a stolen vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition (found in the vehicle), possession of a controlled substance, hit and run, and driving under the influence.  Wilson was also booked for two felony warrants for felony resisting arrest and being a felon in possession of a firearm.  He is a post release offender.      

No citizens or officers were injured as a result of this pursuit.  

Sheriff K( — Photo: file

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