La Mesan Sought in Mexican Mafia Gang Sweep Plows into Police Car

A La Mesa man sought in a countywide gang sweep led authorities on a chase Thursday morning that ended in him plowing his truck into a police car in the Oak Park area of San Diego.

John Atkinson, 29, was fleeing at high speed from undercover San Diego police officers and federal agents when he lost control of the pickup at state Route 94 and Kelton Road shortly before noon, said San Diego police Lt. Jerry Hara.

Atkinson had begun fleeing about 11:30 a.m. after seeing the plainclothes law enforcement personnel show up outside his La Mesa home, Hara said. His address wasn’t disclosed.

The officers tailed him for a time as he drove west into San Diego, but then backed off for safety reasons when he began speeding, driving erratically and running stop signs, according to Hara.

Atkinson was one of 117 alleged street gang members and associates of the Mexican Mafia in the San Diego area charged with racketeering conspiracy, drug trafficking and firearm offenses in federal indictments and complaints unsealed this week.

Officers from state, local and federal agencies fanned out across the custody. The roundup of suspects is thought to have been one of the largest ever mounted locally.

La Mesa police had 10 personnel involved in the federal operation, Lt. Matt Nicholass said Thursday.

San Diego police said Atkinson’s truck downed several street signs and hit a marked San Diego police cruiser, sending it spinning and causing heavy back-end damage, before crashing to a stop against an embankment.
  
Officers then arrested Atkinson, who was wanted on suspicion of methamphetamine trafficking. Before booking him, they took him to an emergency room for treatment of minor injuries he suffered in the wreck.
  
The patrolwoman who was in the squad car struck by the out-of-control truck was apparently uninjured, but she was taken to a hospital for a precautionary examination, police said.