Corona, CA: Pursuit after domestic violence dispute ends in arrest

On August 31, 2011, deputies from the Norco Office of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to the 3000 block of Valley View Ave in the City of Norco regarding a domestic violence incident.

Upon arrival, the victim advised responding deputies that her ex-husband (separated), Jaime Sanchez of Corona, CA, had come to her residence uninvited twice during the evening in an attempt to contact her. The second time Sanchez arrived, he forced his way inside the residence and confronted the victim, as well as her children and a visiting family member, brandishing a knife in his hand. Sanchez demanded the cell phones from both the victim and a young family member so they could not call the police.

During the confrontation, one family member was able to escape the room where the incident was occurring. The victim began yelling for the family member to call the police, at which time Sanchez fled the residence, taking the victim's vehicle keys, and subsequently the victim's vehicle in the process. The information was broadcast to local law enforcement, and members of the Riverside County Gang Task Force – Corona Region happened to be in the area and began looking for the suspect and the victim's vehicle. The vehicle was located and a vehicle pursuit was initiated by the Gang Task Force members, and shortly thereafter assumed by members of the Norco Office of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

The pursuit concluded when Sanchez drove the victim's vehicle down a steep embankment into the Santa Ana River bed, at which time the vehicle became disabled. Sanchez fled the vehicle on foot and was located by Riverside Police Department's helicopter "Air 1," and subsequently taken into custody by a Riverside County Sheriff's Department K9 Unit.

Sanchez was ultimately booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center for 211 PC - Robbery, 459 PC - Burglary, 591 PC - Obstruction of Notification to Law Enforcement, 2800.2 VC - Evading a Peace Officer (vehicle), and 148 PC - Obstructing, Resisting or Delaying a Peace Officer.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Deputy Cleveland at the Norco Office of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department at (951) 270-5673.