Temecula Police Chase: Man Steals CHP Cruiser, Carjacks 2 Others

TEMECULA, CA — A Vista man was arrested Monday after leading authorities on a multi-county pursuit throughout SoCal, stealing a CHP cruiser and carjacking two other motorists during the ordeal, the California Highway Patrol reports.

It all started around 9:45 a.m. with a traffic stop in the Temecula Area CHP's jurisdiction. A CHP Officer tried to pull over a motorcyclist who was spotted riding without a helmet, according to CHP Officer Mike Lassig. That man has since been identified as 20-year-old Adolfo Makana Moreno, Jr.

"The motorcyclist failed to yield, accelerated away at a high rate of speed and a pursuit ensued," Lassig said.

After Moreno sped southbound on Interstate 15, he got off the freeway at Rancho California Road and headed into the De Luz area, Lassig said.

"The suspect abandoned the motorcycle, fled on foot and the officer gave chase on foot," Lassig said.

That's when Moreno hopped into the unoccupied CHP patrol vehicle and took off, Lassig said.

"Riverside County Sheriff's airship STAR 9 was overhead and a multi-agency pursuit ensued," he said. "The suspect crashed the patrol vehicle into a concrete curb on Jefferson Avenue, just north of Rancho California Road."

Moreno still kept running from police and carjacked a person in Lexus who was in a parking lot on Ynez Road, just north of Rancho California Road, according to Lassig.

"The suspect used physical force to steal the vehicle from the driver and continued to flee in the Lexus," Lassig said. "CHP units pursued the suspect in the Lexus."

Moreno continued to flee police and got back onto Interstate 15, heading into San Diego County, Lassig said. He eventually collided with three other vehicles at Manchester Avenue in Cardiff.

He carjacked someone else — and fled again, the CHP said.

"The suspect fled on foot from that collision, onto surface streets, and located an unoccupied Toyota Prius which had the vehicle keys inside and proceeded to steal that vehicle and continued to flee," Lassig said. "The pursuit continued north on I-5 into Orange County."

Moreno eventually pulled over and surrendered in San Juan Capistrano shortly after 11 a.m. No one was injured.

He was arrested on suspicion of felony reckless evading, battery, unlawful taking of a vehicle, misdemeanor hit and run and carjacking, according to Lassig. He was taken to the Cois M. Byrd Detention in French Valley, but jail booking records were not immediately available.