Man in stolen car leads officers on chase into Paso Robles, CHP says

A Salinas man led California Highway Patrol officers on a high-speed chase early Thursday morning on Highway 101 from the Monterey-San Luis Obispo County line into Paso Robles, where he was arrested after a brief foot pursuit, authorities said.

No one was injured in the incident, and the suspect remained in custody in San Luis Obispo County Jail late Thursday morning.

At about 10:47 p.m. Wednesday, the CHP received reports of a maroon Honda Accord weaving within the southbound lanes of Highway 101 just south of King City. The license plate of the car came back as stolen out of Salinas, according to the CHP.

The vehicle was located shortly afterward near the county line, but the driver then led patrol cars on a chase that at times exceeded 100 mph.

The driver exited at North Spring Street in Paso Robles, briefly evading officers as he drove through several city streets where he allegedly turned off his headlights, parked the vehicle near the intersection of Plymouth Hill and Loraine Way and took off on foot.

CHP officers from Templeton and King City, including a helicopter unit, were assisted by Paso Robles police in finding the alleged driver.

Juan Machuca Gonzalez, 19, was found in the area and arrested without further incident. He was booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of felony charges of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, evading arrest as well as misdemeanor driving without a license and possession of burglary tools, according to jail records.

Gonzalez remained in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail late Thursday morning.

This story was originally published May 14, 2015 at 11:14 AM with the headline "Man in stolen car leads officers on chase into Paso Robles, CHP says."