Staff reports
LAKE COUNTY — An early morning pursuit ended with the arrest of a San Leandro man after he crashed into a power pole and attempted to hide from deputies.
Thursday at approximately 3:50 a.m., the California Highway Patrol (CHP) provided information that a black sport utility vehicle had nearly collided head on with another vehicle. The vehicle was reported to be traveling North on Highway 29 in the area of Hidden Valley Lake.
A sergeant with the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO), who was in the area, located the vehicle in the area of Highway 29 and Coyote Grade, according to LCSO Public Information Officer Sgt. Steve Brooks.
The sergeant was able to get behind the vehicle and observed it swerving within the lane and traveling approximately 70 mph.
Because of the erratic driving, the sergeant suspected the driver of the vehicle may be driving while under the influence. He attempted to conduct an enforcement stop in the area of Highway 29 and Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake.
The vehicle accelerated, started utilizing both lanes of the roadway and turned on Spruce Grove Road. The vehicle left the roadway sideswiped a tree and accelerated back onto the roadway. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Michael Stephen Rampa, 35, turned off his vehicle lights and continued driving South on Spruce Grove Road at approximately 70 mph.
Rampa failed to negotiate a right hand turn in the roadway and struck an electrical pole in the area of Spruce Grove Road and Old Spruce Grove Road. The electrical pole sheared off, which caused a bright flash and sparking of the electrical wires. The live electrical wires landed on the roadway. Rampa exited his vehicle and ran west into a wooded area. An extensive search was conducted involving multiple LCSO deputies, an LCSO apprehension K9, officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Sonoma County Sheriff”s helicopter “Henry-1” and the REACH-6 helicopter, which is based in Lake County.
Approximately four hours into the search a neighbor in the area saw the suspect on his property and dialed 9-1-1.
Deputies responded to the area where Rampa was last seen and continued the search. At approximately 8:27 a.m. the sergeant originally involved in the chase, located and arrested Rampa who was hiding in the brush.
Rampa, who has had several prior driving under the influence arrests (DUI), was booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on charges of evading a peace officer, felony DUI and felony hit-and-run. PG & E reported that 168 customers were affected by the power outage that resulted from the crash. The CHP is conducting an investigation.
