Early Morning High Speed Chase Originated In Jamestown

Jamestown, Ca — A Watsonville man led Tuolumne County Sheriff´s deputies and CHP officers on a high speed chase early this morning that lasted just under 40 minutes and traveled over 30 miles.

Sheriff Jim Mele was traveling in an unmarked vehicle around midnight near the Stent Cutoff in Jamestown, when he noticed a 1986 Chevy Camaro driving erratically. Because Mele´s vehicle was not marked, he called in deputies to investigate whether the driver of the Camaro, 29-year-old Jason Reaves, was intoxicated.

When deputies arrived and attempted to pull over the Camaro, Reaves sped through Jamestown and headed westbound on Hwy 108. Because of the possibility that the chase would leave Tuolumne County, CHP Officers joined in the effort. The Sheriff´s Office says that Reaves reached speeds of 75 mph, and at times traveled in the eastbound lane of traffic. This caused oncoming traffic to pull off the roadway to avoid being hit.

The chase ended when Reaves entered into Stanislaus County and crashed into a parked vehicle just east of Oakdale. The suspect initially resisted arrest, but decided to comply after an officer applied a Taser gun. Reaves was taken to Stanislaus County Jail on charges of felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

Written by BJ Hansen