LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Willits man who attempted to outrun law enforcement following an attempted traffic stop in the Lakeport area was taken into custody early Saturday.
John Paul Wilson, 32, was arrested at 2:50 a.m. Saturday, according to Lake County Jail booking records.
Radio reports indicated that a sheriff’s deputy had attempted to pull over Wilson, driving a Cadillac Escalade, for reckless driving near Lake County Juvenile Hall on Whalen Way, which resulted in the pursuit.
Wilson led the deputy down Lakeshore Boulevard, with Wilson reported to be driving in the middle of the road, radio reports indicated.
Lakeport Police Officer Joe Eastham said he was staged in the area and joined the chase when Wilson turned onto Alterra Drive.
Eastham said the chase had reached speeds of 75 miles per hour on Lakeshore Boulevard before he joined the pursuit.
Once Eastham joined the chase, “It only lasted probably three blocks,” he said.
Alterra Drive dead ends into Stubbs Street, and that’s where Wilson drove off the road and into an orchard area, where his vehicle got stuck, Eastham said.
He said Wilson attempted to flee on foot before he was apprehended by the deputy.
Wilson was booked into the Lake County Jail on a misdemeanor charge of driving on a suspended license, and felonies for possessing a billy club and evading an officer, according to jail records.
His bail was set at $35,000, and jail records indicated that he remained in custody on Sunday, with a court date set for Jan. 22.
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