Man jumps from stolen vehicle, crashes into cop

BARSTOW • Police arrested a man who jumped from a stolen vehicle just before it crashed into a squad car during a traffic stop Wednesday morning.

Officer Michael Cardenas was doing his usual patrol on the 500 block of West Fredricks Street at around 9 a.m. when he noticed what appeared to him as a driver attempting to elude him, according to a report by the Barstow Police Department.

Cardenas thought the vehicle may have been stolen because it had been tampered with. He ran the plates, but found it was not stolen.

Police believe the driver was attempting to flee from Cardenas when the officer pulled behind the vehicle, blocking him in. As the vehicle was moving backward, the driver leapt from it and ran on foot. The car then crashed into Cardena’s police vehicle, causing minor damage.

Additional police rushed to the scene to search for the suspect. After 45 minutes they were not able to find him.

When police contacted the registered owner from Ontario, they learned the owner reported the vehicle stolen just minutes before the call from police.

Later in the afternoon police learned from a citizen informant the suspect was back in the same area on West Fredricks Street.

Police located the suspect who, again, fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, officers found him hiding in shrubs. He was arrested after a brief struggle.

Dominique Harris, 24, of Pomona was booked into the Barstow Jail with bail set at $50,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned at Barstow Superior Court on Friday.

This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Cardenas at (760) 256-2211. Those wishing to report anonymously can contact the WeTip Hotline at (800) 78-CRIME or visit www.WeTip.com.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4123 or klucia@desertdispatch.com