Police Dog Takes Down Suspect Who Led Cops On Pursuit Through La Mesa

A 24-year-old woman and her 27-year-old male passenger were in custody Tuesday following a President's Day pursuit in East County, police said.

The pursuit began about 5:45 p.m. Monday after a patrol officer using a license plate reader spotted a stolen vehicle being driven on Wisconsin Avenue in El Cajon, according to El Cajon police Lt. Mark Coit.

The driver of the vehicle – later identified of Adriana Alexis Martinez – stopped briefly for the patrol officer before speeding away, Coit said in a statement.

Martinez drove onto a nearby freeway and into La Mesa before heading back into El Cajon, the lieutenant said.

The vehicle chase ended at Medford Street and Navajo Road, when Martinez crashed into another vehicle and the vehicle she was driving became disabled, Coit said. He said no one was hurt in the crash.

The pursuit continued with Martinez and her passenger, Ernest Andrew Molina, allegedly bailing on foot. Coit said Martinez was chased down by a police dog and Molina was taken into custody following a brief struggle with officers.

Martinez was taken to an area hospital to treat injuries inflicted by the dog. She was booked into the Las Colinas Detention Facility in Santee around 10:30 p.m. – about 40 minutes after Molina was booked into San Diego Central Jail, according to online jail records.

– City News Service