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Sacramento Man Arrested After High-Speed Pursuit in Stolen Police Cruiser
A 28‑year‑old Sacramento resident was taken into custody after a high‑speed chase that saw a stolen police cruiser tear through traffic on Highway 99.
The pursuit began just after 12:30 p.m. on Friday when Sacramento Police responded to a call at the intersection of Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue. A caller reported that a homeless person had thrown a bucket at a woman’s tire and then chased her with a large stick, striking her window. When officers attempted to detain the suspect, he escaped and drove off in a marked police cruiser.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers quickly took over the chase. By 1:36 p.m. the stolen cruiser was heading southbound on Highway 99 in the Galt area of Sacramento County. At 1:42 p.m., CHP tried a precision‑immobilization (PIT) maneuver in the Lodi area of San Joaquin County, striking the rear bumper of the vehicle. The impact did not stop the driver, and the cruiser accelerated away.
A second PIT attempt at 1:47 p.m. again struck the rear, but the suspect continued to drive. Minutes later he opened the driver’s door, raised his hands, and exited onto the pavement. Officers circled him and arrested him near Turner Road on Highway 99. The chase forced a temporary closure of the southbound lanes, which have since reopened.
Sacramento Police spokesperson Anthony Gamble said the suspect, Isaac Paval, was taken to a hospital for treatment and will be booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on multiple felony charges related to the pursuit. Gamble also noted that the investigation is ongoing, including a possible allegation that Paval possessed a rifle.
Paval, who has a criminal history in Sacramento and was on pretrial probation for a DUI at the time, was wearing a blue shirt during the chase. No officers were injured.
The incident was unusual in that a police vehicle was being pursued, rather than the typical scenario of police chasing a suspect. The event was captured on video by local law enforcement.
The Sacramento Police Department confirmed that the cruiser involved was a patrol vehicle from the department’s fleet, not registered to Paval and reported as stolen.
Highway 99, which runs through the Central Valley, is a heavily trafficked route that has seen a number of high‑speed incidents in recent years. This chase underscores the risks associated with pursuits on California’s major highways.
The Sacramento Police Department and the CHP are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the chase, Paval’s prior criminal record, and the alleged possession of a rifle. The case will proceed through the Sacramento County court system.
The incident has prompted a review of procedures for handling stolen police vehicles and the coordination between city police and state highway patrol during high‑speed pursuits. The chase ended without injury to officers or the public, but it caused a temporary disruption to traffic on Highway 99. The suspect’s arrest and subsequent booking into jail are the current status of the case.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further details about potential charges beyond those related to the pursuit and the alleged rifle possession. The case will be monitored for updates as it moves through the judicial process.
The pursuit began just after 12:30 p.m. on Friday when Sacramento Police responded to a call at the intersection of Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue. A caller reported that a homeless person had thrown a bucket at a woman’s tire and then chased her with a large stick, striking her window. When officers attempted to detain the suspect, he escaped and drove off in a marked police cruiser.
California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers quickly took over the chase. By 1:36 p.m. the stolen cruiser was heading southbound on Highway 99 in the Galt area of Sacramento County. At 1:42 p.m., CHP tried a precision‑immobilization (PIT) maneuver in the Lodi area of San Joaquin County, striking the rear bumper of the vehicle. The impact did not stop the driver, and the cruiser accelerated away.
A second PIT attempt at 1:47 p.m. again struck the rear, but the suspect continued to drive. Minutes later he opened the driver’s door, raised his hands, and exited onto the pavement. Officers circled him and arrested him near Turner Road on Highway 99. The chase forced a temporary closure of the southbound lanes, which have since reopened.
Sacramento Police spokesperson Anthony Gamble said the suspect, Isaac Paval, was taken to a hospital for treatment and will be booked into Sacramento County Main Jail on multiple felony charges related to the pursuit. Gamble also noted that the investigation is ongoing, including a possible allegation that Paval possessed a rifle.
Paval, who has a criminal history in Sacramento and was on pretrial probation for a DUI at the time, was wearing a blue shirt during the chase. No officers were injured.
The incident was unusual in that a police vehicle was being pursued, rather than the typical scenario of police chasing a suspect. The event was captured on video by local law enforcement.
The Sacramento Police Department confirmed that the cruiser involved was a patrol vehicle from the department’s fleet, not registered to Paval and reported as stolen.
Highway 99, which runs through the Central Valley, is a heavily trafficked route that has seen a number of high‑speed incidents in recent years. This chase underscores the risks associated with pursuits on California’s major highways.
The Sacramento Police Department and the CHP are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the chase, Paval’s prior criminal record, and the alleged possession of a rifle. The case will proceed through the Sacramento County court system.
The incident has prompted a review of procedures for handling stolen police vehicles and the coordination between city police and state highway patrol during high‑speed pursuits. The chase ended without injury to officers or the public, but it caused a temporary disruption to traffic on Highway 99. The suspect’s arrest and subsequent booking into jail are the current status of the case.
The investigation remains active, and authorities have not released further details about potential charges beyond those related to the pursuit and the alleged rifle possession. The case will be monitored for updates as it moves through the judicial process.
