Update: Car Theft Suspects ID'd By La Mesa Police After Freeway Chase

Update: 9:40 p.m. Tuesday, March 20

La Mesa police have named the two men arrested Tuesday evening after allegedly evading officers and leading them on a televised chase on Interstate 8.

Everette Ernie Borha Jr., 28, of El Cajon, is being charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading in a vehicle and resisting arrest, police said.

Hector Raymond Ramos, 38, of Earliment, CA in Tulare County, is being charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest. He is also facing a felony parole violation.

They have been booked into San Diego County Jail.

Borha's bail has been set at $25,00. Ramos is not eligible for release. The men will be arraigned on Friday, March 23. Bail for Ramos is expected to be set at $25,000.

Police say the pair crashed into a wall near on Murray Drive. Borha, who was driving, was subdued by a Taser near the vehicle. He was being treated at Alvarado Hospital because of the Taser deployment. Ramos was arrested in the parking lot of the restaurant.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information is urged to call the La Mesa Police Department at (619) 667-1400.

You may also call Crime Stoppers’ anonymous toll-free tip line (888) 580-TIPS or www.sdcrimestoppers.com.  You can remain anonymous, and be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Original story:

An auto theft suspect led officers on a road chase through the East County early Tuesday evening before crashing the car off Interstate 8 and fleeing on foot.

The pursuit began about 5:30 p.m. in the area of Ballantyne Street in El Cajon, sheriff's Lt. J.T. Faulkner said. Police chased the fleeing man, who had a passenger with him, to the west over surface streets and onto I-8.

Aided by a sheriff's helicopter crew, officers followed the stolen car into La Mesa, where the suspect crashed it off the freeway onto Murray Drive, after which the sedan spun around and crashed into a retaining wall. One of the occupants of the smoking vehicle then jumped out and ran off.

Officers had one man in custody a short time later, Faulkner said. It was not immediately clear if the detainee had been the driver of the stolen car or the passenger.

– City News Service