Sheriff’s Car Stolen During Tour de Poway

A car belonging to the sheriff’s Senior Volunteer Patrol was stolen Sunday morning during the Tour de Poway bicycle event, and the suspect led law enforcement on a 23-mile, 38-minute pursuit that ended in Carmel Valley, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

The pursuit ended when the suspect—identified by the Sheriff’ Department as 30-year-old Sean Webber of Poway—surrendered after driving through a fence. There were no injuries and property damage was limited to the SVP car and the fence it drove through.

It all started when SVP volunteers assisting with traffic control were standing near their marked car at the intersection of Midland Road and Twin Peaks Road around 9:50 a.m. The suspect got into the car and drove off, but was spotted by a deputy less than a minute later, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The deputy attempted to get the car to pull over, but Webber failed to yield and the pursuit was on, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Daniel Vengler.

San Diego police officers joined the pursuit as Webber drove out of Poway toward the coast, according to Vengler. A sheriff’s helicopter began to follow the stolen car, allowing deputies and officers to break away from the chase. CHP officers closed intersections in the area to cross traffic.

The helicopter crew guided officers and deputies on the ground, who deployed spike strips in hopes of deflating the car’s tires.

The pursuit ended in a cul-de-sac in the Carmel Valley area, where Webber allegedly stopped the car, then drove through a fence attempting to reach another street. According to the Sheriff’s Department, Webber drove back toward officers and deputies that had converged on the car. Webber jumped out of the slow-moving car and surrendered. The SVP car ended up on the shoulder of a road.

Vengler said Webber was booked into jail on multiple criminal charges including vehicle theft and evading.