LAKE COUNTY ? A high-speed chase began in the Clearlake Rivieras area and covered more than eight miles. It ended with the arrest of 31-year-old Clearlake resident Erik Wayne Sutch late Saturday night.
California Highway Patrol officer Robert Hearn saw Sutch crossing double yellow lines just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday in a 1992 Saturn near Point Lakeview Drive and Soda Bay Road. Authorities discovered Sunday that the car was stolen shortly before the chase ensued, according to a CHP report.
Sutch sped away from an attempted traffic stop at Point Lakeview Road and Fairway Drive, reaching speeds up to 100 miles per hour as he raced southward on Point Lakeview Road, turning onto Highway 29 and heading into Lower Lake”s downtown area, according to CHP officer Adam Garcia.
Hearn reportedly called for backup, which was on the way, when the chase ended on Lower Lake”s Main Street. Sutch”s speed prevented him from negotiating a left turn onto Mill Street and he hit a power pole. Sutch got out of the car and ran another 200 yards before Hearn overtook and arrested him.
Among other charges, Sutch faces felony charges for evading police, possession of a controlled substance and vehicle theft. His booking charges also include driving without a license, driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and bringing a controlled substance into the jail.
The substance ? prescription codeine ? was found on Sutch during a search conducted after he was booked, following an initial search by the CHP and a second conducted at the Lake County Jail before he was booked.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
