Man ID'd In Fiery Cherry Police Pursuit, Crash

CHERRY VALLEY, CA — A man accused of fleeing from Beaumont police and crashing on a Cherry Valley property — sparking a brush fire in the process — has been publicly identified. Now, authorities are hoping someone can help them track down the wanted man.

Rayder William Johnson, 48, is sought by the Beaumont Police Department for allegedly fleeing from cops, leading them on a chase from Beaumont into Cherry Valley. After a short pursuit, he crashed into a fence near Bogart Park and took off running from the car, along with a female passenger, according to police.

The woman was eventually caught, but Johnson got away, police said.

Police said it all started when someone heard a woman screaming "call 911" in the the 700 block of Cedar View Drive around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

"The witness then saw a white Ford Mustang leaving the location at a high rate of speed," Beaumont police said in a press release Wednesday night. "Officers responded to the area and located a vehicle matching the description and attempted to conduct an investigative stop on the vehicle. The driver failed to yield and led officers on a pursuit into Cherry Valley, an unincorporated area of Riverside County."

The driver then headed up Winesap Avenue, near the back entrance to Bogart Park. He crashed in a nearby field, off Johnathan Avenue and Bridge Street.

The crash sparked a small brush fire, sending a small smoke plume into the area for a short time.

Police set up a perimeter in the area and searched for the duo who ran from the car. The woman was caught and detained, but after a few hours, police left the scene without finding Johnson. The woman was not identified.

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Cherry Valley Crash Sparks Fire Following Beaumont Police Chase