If you heard sirens and helicopters last Wednesday afternoon on Pacific Coast Highway, it was Lost Hills Sheriff Station deputies helping the California Highway Patrol catch a man who evaded police for more than two hours. Besides following the suspect’s car through Malibu, deputies also threw out one of two spike strips in an attempt to flatten his tires.
According to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Tony D’Ambrosio, three jurisdictions of law enforcement were involved in pursuing James Robertson, 36, of Simi Valley. Simi Valley police tried to stop him at 3 p.m. for speeding on the 118 Freeway. Shortly afterwards, he was seen throwing what appeared to be cocaine out of his window, D’Ambrosio said.
The chase was picked up by the CHP at Interstate 5. They pursued him westbound on the 134 freeway to the 101, then to its intersection with the 405, south to Interstate 10, and west to Pacific Coast Highway.
Sheriff deputies were asked to assist when the man reached Rambla Vista, D’Ambrosio said.
According to Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station deputy Shaun Mathers, the first spike strip was thrown on Pacific Coast Highway at 4 p m. near Corral Canyon. The device is a 20-foot plastic strip with nails and is activated by remote control, Mathers said.
A second spike strip, used by the CHP at Las Posas Road in Ventura, blew out the tires, but the man drove 14 more miles before the CHP stopped him at 5 p.m. on the 101 freeway in Camarillo, D’Ambrosio said. Robertson was then turned over to the Simi Valley police, D’Ambrosio said. At minimum, he faces a charge for felony evasion, D’Ambrosio noted.