Police chase of suspected car burglar ends in Rancho Santa Fe

By City News Service

A 19-year-old suspected car burglar was arrested Oct. 11 at the end of a North County road chase during which he allegedly used the SUV he was driving to ram a patrol vehicle, leaving a deputy with minor injuries.

The pursuit began at about 4:15 a.m., after sheriff’s personnel went to the 700 block of San Mario Drive in Solana Beach to investigate a report that suspicious-looking people were checking the doors of vehicles parked along the road, Lt. Kenn Nelson said.

As the deputies arrived in the neighborhood, a small sport-utility vehicle with at least three people in it sped off, according to Nelson. The patrol personnel gave chase and tried to pull over the driver, who allegedly refused to yield.

The motorist, later identified as Aaron Hector Martinez of Escondido, allegedly continued speeding to the east into Rancho Santa Fe. There he lost control on a curve at the intersection of Villa de la Valle and Las Colinas, and the SUV crashed into a metal support cable attached to a telephone pole.

At that point, Martinez allegedly accelerated in reverse and intentionally rammed a sheriff’s cruiser, then jumped out and ran off along with the others who had been in the SUV, according to Nelson.

Deputies caught up with Martinez a short distance away and arrested him.

The others got away. Inside Martinez’s vehicle deputies allegedly found burglary tools and valuables believed to have been stolen during car break-ins.

A deputy who had been in the patrol vehicle struck by the SUV was treated for superficial injuries.

Martinez was booked into county jail on suspicion of vehicular burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, failure to yield and resisting arrest, the lieutenant said.