Stolen Vehicle High-Speed Chase Ends in Brookings Arrest

(photo courtesy Jennifer Baker)

Late Friday afternoon, Brookings Police Dispatch received multiple 911 calls just after 4:00 pm regarding a reckless, erratic driver traveling on northbound Hwy. 101 in a small black passenger vehicle at a high speed. The reporting parties reported the operator was driving outside of its lane and passing other vehicles on the right-hand side of the highway.

The vehicle, causing an immediate public threat while still traveling at rates of speed while weaving in and out of traffic, was first spotted by Brookings Police Officers at Pacific Ave. who then began a code-3 pursuit in an attempt to get the driver to pull over and stop the vehicle.

The suspect refused to pull over and stop. He then forced his way through stopped traffic at Hwy. 101 and 5th St., and in the process struck a pick-up truck stopped at the intersection traffic light.

The driver then continued on from the 5th St. intersection continuing to refuse to stop as Officers pursued behind the suspect. The suspect finally pulled over along Hwy. 101 near Lucky Lane where the suspect was taken into custody without further incident after Officers performed a high-risk armed traffic stop.

27 year old Genaro Monjaras

The suspect, later identified as 27 year old Genaro Monjaras of Crescent City, California, was taken into custody after authorities discovered the driver had struck other vehicles and that the vehicle had been stolen Monday afternoon from Crescent City.

Monjaras was taken into custody without further incident at the scene and lodged in the Curry County Jail on recommended charges of Attempt to Elude Police, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Reckless Driving, and Reckless Endangering.