Last night at approximately 12:07 a.m., parolee Angel Espinoza – formerly one of “Gilroy’s Most Wanted” – led several Gilroy police on a high-speed car chase that began in the area of Chestnut and Martin streets.
No one was injured and no collateral damaged was caused to other vehicles during the 7-minute pursuit, according to GPD Sgt. Chad Gallacinao.
Gallacinao said Espinoza, 25, of 200 Loupe Court, was a passenger who forcefully pushed the driver/victim out of a 1994 Honda Civic after a GPD patrol car attempted to initiate a stop on the Honda for a vehicle code violation.
Espinoza then sped off, initiating a high-speed chase involving four GPD units through residential Gilroy neighborhoods.
Gallacinao said Espinoza reached speeds of 80 mph, ran multiple stop signs and red lights. Police units were able to corral Espinoza after he failed to negotiate a turn near Santa Teresa Boulevard and Third Street.
Luckily, “in this instance, just after midnight on weekday, there was very light traffic on the roadway,” said Gallacinao. “That’s one of the reasons why the pursuit continued.”
Espinoza, who was on realignment parole and already had a felony warrant for his arrest, was booked last night into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on charges of carjacking, evading police officers and driving without a license.
To read a past story on Espinoza, click here.Â
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