Lakeport man arrested following high-speed chase in stolen BMW
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Lakeport man on Monday who led them on a high-speed chase in a stolen car.
Austin Anthony Schweitzer, 26, was arrested following the Monday afternoon pursuit in Clearlake Oaks, according to Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
At 1:30 p.m. Monday a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the Clearlake Oaks area and observed a black BMW sedan travelling east on Highway 20, Paulich said.
The BMW passed a tractor trailer over double-yellow lines in the area of the Orchard Shores Mobile Home Park. Paulich said the deputy estimated the BMW was travelling at approximately 100 miles per hour.
Paulich said the deputy attempted to stop the BMW, but the driver continued driving at approximately 100 miles per hour. Several vehicles had to swerve to avoid colliding with the BMW.
As the deputy was pursuing the BMW it was reported that the BMW had just been reported stolen from the Power Mart in Lucerne, Paulich said.
Paulich said the deputy briefly lost sight of the BMW as they continued travelling east on Highway 20.
The deputy then located the BMW off of the side of the road in the area of Highway 20 and Y Road. Paulich said it appeared the driver had lost control of the vehicle.
The deputy then saw Schweitzer fleeing behind a residence on Y Road, Paulich said.
Additional deputies arrived and they were able to take Schweitzer into custody. Paulich said it was later determined that Schweitzer was a parolee on Post Release Community Supervision.
Schweitzer was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked on charges of felony evading and possession of a stolen vehicle, Paulich said.
Paulich said Schweitzer remained in custody on Tuesday with a no bail hold.
Schweitzer is scheduled to appear in Lake County Superior Court on Wednesday for arraignment, according to booking records.