Morgan Hill Police pursued a suspect who led officers on a high-speed chase, crashed into another motorist and tried to discard a handgun before he was arrested, according to authorities.
On Sept. 12, MHPD officers were in the area of Carriage Drive and Llagas Road to check on a suspicious vehicle that had been reported by a resident. The vehicle had been driving in the area for more than 20 minutes.
Officers located the vehicle parked on the side of the road, but the driver sped away as police walked up to the car, according to a Sept. 13 press release. Officers initially pursued the vehicle but backed off because of high traffic in the area.
Moments later, police received a call stating the vehicle that fled from police had been involved in a hit and run accident, and the driver threw a handgun out the window, police said. Officers found the handgun underneath a VTA bus and kept it for evidence.
With the new information, officers renewed their search for the suspect vehicle, which they eventually located in the area of East Dunne Avenue and U.S. 101, police said. Police again attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver refused to pull over. He was chased into Gilroy, where the driver exited the freeway onto Tenth Street.
The driver continued to lead police through the streets of Gilroy before stopping in front of a residence on Eigleberry Street in the city’s downtown, police said.
The driver was arrested without further incident. He is identified as Ernesto Garza, 18 of Gilroy, according to police. He was booked at Santa Clara County Jail.
Anyone with information about this case can contact Morgan Hill police at (669) 253-4964, or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
