Santa Paula man arrested after carjacking, police pursuit

A Santa Paula man was arrested after police say he stole a parked vehicle and led officers on a chase Saturday afternoon in Ventura.

At around 1:00 p.m., Ventura police received a call for a vehicle that had just been stolen on the 300 block of East Main Street.

According to a press release from the Ventura Police Department, the owner of the vehicle had stopped at a business and left his 13-year-old son in the running vehicle. While inside, a man got into the parked car and ordered the son to get out of the car.

When the boy got out, the suspect drove off with the stolen vehicle. The boy was not harmed.

Officers responding to the call saw the vehicle, a BMW SUV, traveling on Thompson Blvd. near Sanjon Road and began to pursue.

The stolen vehicle continued on Harbor Blvd., collided with another vehicle and entered southbound Highway 101 near California Street.

Officers pursued the suspect at speeds ranging between 75 and 95 MPH, until he was involved in another collision near the Highway 101 and 126 interchange.

The vehicle came to a rest on the embankment and the suspect fled on foot. After a brief foot pursuit, he was taken into custody.

The suspect has been identified as Chance Daugherty, 23, of Santa Paula.

Daugherty was transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Daugherty was later booked into the Ventura County Jail on a complaint of carjacking, felony evading, and hit and run.

No officers or bystanders were injured in the pursuit. The stolen vehicle sustained moderate damage and was impounded.