Driver, 17, arrested after striking police cars, leading pursuit in Corona

Last Updated on February 5, 2022 by CCAR Staff

A 17-year-old boy found driving a stolen car was arrested after leading Corona police on a pursuit and striking two of their cars, along with two innocent bystanders’ cars, police said.

Police found the stolen car being driven in the area of Ontario and Rimpau avenues around 1:50 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4, the Corona Police Department said in a news release. The driver fled the officer and went into a shopping center parking lot at Fullerton and Ontario avenues, where he then struck a parked car and the front end of the officer’s car, according to police.

The driver continued to flee and a pursuit ensued that spanned sections of both the 91 and 15 freeway. The driver struck at least two innocent bystanders’ cars, as well as another officer’s vehicle, authorities said.

One officer had unspecified injuries that were not life-threatening, Police Cpl. Tobias Kouroubacalis said.

Police were able to end the chase in the area of Pierce Street and the 91 Freeway in Riverside by using a PIT maneuver, Kouroubacalis said.

The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, willfully resisting a police officer and causing injury and possession of a stolen vehicle, police said.