Watsonville Man Found Guilty of Crimes Related to 2015 Car Chase

MONTEREY COUNTY, CA — A Watsonville man has been found guilty of several crimes related to a 2015 vehicle pursuit with Monterey County Sheriff's Office deputies, Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo announced Thursday. Jaime Ayala, 30, was found guilty of two counts of felony evading a peace officer, two counts of failure to appear and resisting arrest.

He faces a maximum sentence of 13 years and eight months in prison, according to prosecutors. On Nov. 22, 2015, deputies observed Ayala speeding on Imjin Parkway in Marina and tried to initiate a traffic stop.

Prosecutors said Ayala sped away, crossed over a center median, ran a red light and reached speeds of more than 100 mph as he tried to flee deputies.

Ayala crashed his vehicle at the onramp to state Highway 1 but continued to flee, reaching speeds of 120 mph, prosecutors said. The pursuit continued into a residential neighborhood in Seaside, where Ayala crashed into two vehicles before deputies disabled his vehicle using a Pursuit Intervention Technique.

The pursuit ended when Ayala crashed into a parked car and tried to run away from deputies, prosecutors said. Deputies had to use a Taser and a K9 unit to take Ayala into custody.

Following his arrest, Ayala twice posted bail and failed to appear for a hearing and for a jury trial, according to prosecutors.

By Bay City News

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