OCEANSIDE–Two men were taking into police custody Monday after leading authorities on a vehicle pursuit from Oceanside to Orange County.
The suspects were identified as Jayvonta Lewis, 23, and Alex Carter, 23, of Long Beach.
Investigators say about 3 a.m., an Oceanside police officer was on patrol in the area of Pierview Way and Cleveland Street. The officer observed a late-model Honda Civic backed into a parking spot directly in front of the Pierview Market. The business was closed and the officer was concerned with recent window-smash burglaries that had occurred throughout San Diego county. The officer drove by the business again and saw that the front glass door directly behind the vehicle had been smashed. The vehicle was occupied by two people and the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The suspects immediately fled from the officer at a high rate of speed.
The suspects entered the I-5 south and continued driving south to Encinitas where they changed direction to the I-5 north; the California Highway Patrol (CHP) took over the pursuit as the suspects continued north. The suspect’s vehicle was slowed by spike strips on the I-5 near SR-74 in Orange County, however the suspects continued to drive the damaged vehicle several more miles. Ultimately, the suspects stopped and one of them fled on foot. Eventually, both suspects were apprehended by the CHP without further incident or injury.
A preliminary investigation revealed the suspects had burglarized two businesses in Oceanside during the course of the night; cash was taken during both crimes. Additionally, Lewis was linked to at least three other recent window-smash type burglaries by Oceanside Police Detectives. Lewis and Carter were booked into Vista Detention Facility for multiple burglaries, vandalism, conspiracy, and felony evasion. The burglaries were part of a series with at least twenty crimes throughout San Diego County beginning in April 2016 and detectives are attempting to determine the suspect’s involvement in those incidents.
Anyone who may have been a victim or has information related to the incident is encouraged to call the Oceanside Police Department at (760) 435-4911.
