A police pursuit closed Highway 330 for a short period Wednesday afternoon. It ended after a spike strip was utilized to stop a red Nissan Pathfinder, (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
UPDATE: Wednesday, January 14 – 4:06 p.m.
Mountain Communities – A 25-year-old man — identified as Michael Gillespie — is in custody following a vehicle pursuit that started in the 41000 block of Big Bear Boulevard in Big Bear Lake about 1 p.m., Wednesday. It ended without incident at the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station when a spike strip was utilized at the lower passing lanes to halt Gillespie’s red Nissan Pathfinder.
THE INCIDENT
Big Bear Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance at Big Bear Resort Management at the aforementioned address. Deputies learned Gillespie had reportedly become agitated when he was asked to vacate a rental property. Arriving officers observed Gillespie speeding away from the business in a red Nissan Pathfinder.
A media release from the Sheriff’s Department indicates officers recognized Gillespie from prior law enforcement contact.
THE PURSUIT
A traffic stop was initiated, according to deputies, and Gillespie refused to yield. The red Nissan was pursued into a nearby parking lot where it became unsafe due to the amount of pedestrians in the area.
Visual contact was lost, but deputies believed Gillespie would attempt to make his way down the hill.
With the assistance of the Sheriff’s Aviation Division and deputies from the Twin Peaks and Highland Sheriff’s Station, Gillespie was located on Highway 330 in the Running Springs area.
Gillespie’s red Nissan was reported to be heading down the mountain erratically at speeds up to 50 miles per hour.
Deputies successfully engaged the use of a spike strip on Gillespie’s vehicle near the Ranger Station on Highway 330, puncturing three tires on the vehicle and causing it to stop. Gillespie was taken into custody without further incident and was to be booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
Bail has been established at $100,000.
ORIGINAL STORY
Mountain Communities – A police pursuit Wednesday afternoon closed Highway 330 between Running Springs and Highland for a short period. A spike strip was utilized near the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station at the lower passing lanes to end the pursuit of a red Nissan Pathfinder.
The incident began in Big Bear Lake at about 1 p.m. and involved Sheriff’s Aviation, and deputies from the Big Bear, Twin Peaks and Highland Sheriff;’s Stations.
Additional details will be released shortly.
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