A probationer who refused to pull over for a traffic stop in the South Bay nine days ago, choosing instead to lead police on a chase to the East County, pleaded guilty Friday to felony evading.
Lawrence Ray Johnson, Jr., 26, will be sentenced on April 27 by Superior Court Judge Garry Haehnle.
Shortly after 9 a.m. on March 18, an officer tried to pull over Johnson for a minor traffic violation as he drove a black 2006 Ford F150 in the 500 block of E Street in Chula Vista, according to Chula Vista police Capt. Lon Turner.
Johnson fled to the north on Interstate 15 and east on State Route 54, at times reached speeds as high as 100 mph and at one point threw something out of the pickup, Turner said.
Reaching Jamacha Boulevard in Spring Valley, Johnson exited the freeway and managed to lose his pursuers. A witness, however, directed officers to the 9100 block of Harness Street, where they spotted and detained two pedestrians matching the description of the fugitive driver and his passenger, who was questioned and released.
—City News Service
