A suspected drunk driver was booked into jail early Sunday after leading deputies on a low-speed chase in Vista and allegedly grabbing a deputy’s gun during a struggle to flee on foot, authorities said.
Deputies from the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office observed a Ford Ranger traveling at a high rate of speed and weaving through traffic in the 800 block of North Santa Fe Avenue in Vista just after 9 p.m. Saturday.
“Deputies initiated a traffic enforcement stop, but the driver refused to yield to the emergency lights and sirens,” sheriff’s Lt. Noah Zarnow said. “A vehicle pursuit ensued, traveling less than one mile at low speeds, reaching a maximum of approximately 29 mph.”
The driver eventually stopped the vehicle in a residential driveway in the 800 block of North Citrus Avenue. He failed to comply with verbal commands given by deputies and attempted to flee the scene on foot, according to Zarnow.
As deputies attempted to take the driver into custody, a physical struggle occurred, with the man grabbing the barrel of a deputy’s firearm and unsuccessfully attempting to pull it from the deputy’s grasp.
Deputies used a Taser on the suspect, who was taken into custody without further incident.
There were no injuries to deputies, and no property damage occurred during the incident.
The suspect, identified as 28-year-old Efrain Bernardino Gomez, was taken to the Vista Detention Facility and booked on suspicion of multiple felony charges including resisting arrest, attempting to remove a firearm from the deputy and evading police with disregard for safety.
Gomez was also booked on suspicion of misdemeanor charges including reckless driving, resisting an officer, drunk driving and driving without a license.
Bail was set at more than $106,000 and his arraignment was scheduled for Thursday in Vista Superior Court.
