Pursuit Suspect Climbs Down To Waiting Deputies After Two Hours Perched in Tree

PHOTO/Aaron Castrejon.

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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​CITRUS - Two hours of negotiations led to the safe surrender of a man accused of grand theft auto and evading police Monday.

The suspect, who has yet to be booked by Sheriff’s deputies, climbed up a tall tree at the corner of East Payson Street and North Rockvale Avenue around 4:30 p.m. A little more than an hour before, He and a passenger evaded Upland officers who tried to stop them in a stolen vehicle.

The vehicle was stolen in Azusa the same day. Upland Police found the car at East Foothill Boulevard and North 2nd Avenue just after 3 p.m.

Upland officers ended their portion of the chase west on the 210 freeway at Fruit Street, according to Upland Police Sgt. Anthony Kabayan.

The California Highway Patrol kept the chase going, even on Azusa surface streets, but officers eventually cancelled the chase.

The suspects drove around erratically, almost aimlessly in the same area where the passenger was let out to take refuge in a home.

The driver stopped nearby after a front right tire gave way. He took refuge in the tree after running through neighborhoods.

Television news pilots alerted a Sheriff’s helicopter of the driver’s location, according to San Dimas Sheriff’s Station Lt. Mackenzie.

Kabayan had no information regarding some items the suspects tossed out during the chase, except for a hat discarded during the start of the chase.

The passenger has yet to be found.

The driver was hospitalized before being booked, Mackenzie said.

San Dimas detectives are working on identifying the passenger.