LAKE COUNTY ? Willits resident Rachel Gregg, 23, was arrested Saturday night south of Lakeport on Red Feather Lane on felony charges of possessing a stolen vehicle, possessing stolen property, child endangerment and evading a peace officer, along with a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Two Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) deputies who were finishing a security check at Konocti Vista Casino at approximately 10:20 p.m. spotted Gregg driving around the casino parking lot with only her parking lights on, according to an LCSO press release. The deputies attempted unsuccessfully to stop Gregg because they suspected she was driving while impaired.
“She ran around with her parking lights on, potentially taking the chance of causing a collision with another vehicle, (and) twice evaded peace officers who were clearly trying to pull her over,” Captain Jim Bauman of the LCSO said.
Gregg allegedly ignored the patrol cars” emergency lights and sirens in the casino parking lot. One patrol car maneuvered in front of her and forced her to stop, but Gregg shook her head and drove away when deputies approached her on foot and ordered her to get out of the car.
During the pursuit in the parking lot, sheriff”s dispatch reported the 1992 Toyota Camry Gregg was driving had been reported stolen earlier that day in Willits. While approaching the car, deputies saw an infant, later identified as Gregg”s 11-month-old daughter, in the front passenger seat.
Gregg led deputies out of the casino parking lot and onto Soda Bay Road, according to the release. She then turned onto Yellow Hammer Lane, where Big Valley Rancheria housing is located. Gregg continued onto Red Feather Lane, where she was forced to stop in the cul-de-sac.
Gregg got out of the car with her daughter, and deputies took the child after she initially refused to surrender the baby, according to the release. Gregg was taken into custody after a brief attempt to resist arrest, and was booked at the Lake County Jail early Monday morning.
During a search of the car, deputies found a purse and cell phone that had been reported stolen from a parked vehicle approximately half a mile away on Meadow Drive earlier that evening. A credit card belonging to the owner of the stolen car was also found in Gregg”s pocket.
Gregg”s bail was set at $25,000. According to jail staff, she was released Tuesday morning. Gregg was arrested Tuesday night on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and resisting arrest.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com, or call her directly at 263-5636 ext. 37.
