A Bakersfield man wanted in two counties was arrested after a dramatic chase across South County beaches Tuesday that culminated with the man running into the ocean and surrendering to armed State Parks rangers near Oso Flaco Lake.
According to San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tony Cipolla, Joshua Anthony Jordan was first spotted driving a white Lexus on Hetrick Avenue in Nipomo around 2:30 p.m. but allegedly refused to pull over when deputies tried to stop him.
Jordan, 38, then began driving the wrong way on Highway 101, according to Cipolla, and deputies called off the chase for safety reasons.
About an hour and a half later, Jordan was spotted again in Pismo Beach. When Pismo Beach police resumed the chase on Highway 1, Jordan entered Oceano Dunes State Beach at Grand Avenue and headed south at 40 mph. Families and children playing on the beach had to run for cover as Jordan sped past, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
His vehicle eventually got stuck in the sand around 4:15 p.m., and Jordan jumped out and ran into the ocean before State Parks rangers took him into custody, according to authorities.
According to Cipolla, Jordan is wanted in San Benito County on suspicion of making felony criminal threats and in Kern County on a no-bail warrant for a parole violation.
He was transported to County Jail and is facing new charges including evading a peace officer and felony willful cruelty to a child with possible injury or death for the danger posed to the families on the beach, Cipolla said.
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