Morgan Hill Police arrested two suspects after they tried to flee the officers in a stolen vehicle, according to authorities.
About 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12, an MHPD officer noticed an occupied stolen vehicle in the parking lot of Cochrane Plaza. As other officers arrived on scene, the vehicle’s driver, later identified as Josephine Frias, 31 of San Jose, attempted to flee at a high rate of speed, according to a post on the MHPD Facebook page.
Officers established a perimeter and were able to contain the fleeing vehicle within a small space, and used a PIT maneuver to cause the driver to spin out of control and end the pursuit, police said. The officers then took Frias and the passenger, Michael Lavarias, 41 of Union City, into custody.
The vehicle had been stolen out of Milpitas, police said. Frias was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, evading a police officer, reckless driving, hit and run, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics, probation violations and a felony no bail warrant.
A search of Lavarias uncovered more narcotics, believed to be methamphetamine, police said. He also had a warrant out of San Jose.
Both suspects were booked at Santa Clara County Jail.
Anyone with information about this incident can call MHPD at (408) 779-2101.
