Car chase leads to foot pursuit, DUI arrest in Salinas

A 26-year-old man led an officer on a car chase, then took off on foot through strawberry fields before being caught by a K9 officer, Salinas police said Tuesday.

A traffic officer tried to stop a pickup for vehicle code violation on West Alisal Street Tuesday morning but the driver sped off, with the officer chasing him for about a mile. At Belmont Street and Via Maria, the driver jumped out of the truck, which he left in gear, causing it to crash into a parked car.

The suspect – identified as Emmanuel Garcia — jumped a fence and ran across Davis Road through strawberry fields with the officer behind him. Eventually he surrendered after a police dog was brought to the scene.

Garcia was determined to be under the influence of marijuana and was on probation for prior DUIs. He also was driving on a suspended license, according to Salinas police.

His truck was impounded for 30-days and Garcia was booked into Monterey County Jail on suspicion of DUI, hit and run, felony evading, violation of probation and driving on a suspended license.