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High-Speed Pursuit Suspect Charged With Over 10 Felonies 

A man who led officers on a high-speed pursuit through Santa Clarita, and allegedly intentionally hit two California Highway Patrol, (CHP) personnel last month has been charged with over 10 felonies. 

Cheyne Watkins, 32, from Santa Barbara, was charged with 13 felonies after leading CHP officers on a high-speed pursuit on Thursday, May 26, said Ricardo Santiago, spokesperson for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

The 13 charges Watkins faces include:

  • Two felony counts of fleeing from a pursuing officer’s motor vehicle in a reckless manner, 
  • Two felony counts of fleeing a pursuing officer’s motor vehicle while driving in the wrong direction,
  • Three felony counts of assault on a peace officer, 
  • One felony count of driving under the influence causing injury,
  • One count of felony hit and run causing injury, 
  • One felony count of a felon in possession of a firearm, 
  • One felony count of a felon in possession of ammunition, 
  • One felony count of being in possession of a loaded handgun on a person or in a vehicle,
  • One felony count of being in possession of an assault weapon.

 

The Chase Is On

Around 12:10 a.m. Thursday, May 26, 2022, Newhall CHP Officers observed a white Ford F150 traveling at a high rate of speed of 90 mph and changing lanes in a reckless manner on the southbound 5 Freeway, south of Calgrove Boulevard, said Officer Josh Greengard, spokesperson for the CHP Newhall Area Office.

“CHP officers activated the patrol vehicle’s emergency lights to conduct an enforcement stop,” Greengard said. “The Ford briefly stopped on the right shoulder north of SR-14 before it accelerated from the shoulder transitioning onto northbound SR-14 at an estimated speed of 100 mph.”

The officer activated its patrol vehicle’s siren and a pursuit ensued, Greengard said.

“The Ford exited at Newhall Avenue and traversed several city streets before entering a neighborhood,” Greengard said. “The pursuing officer briefly lost sight of the vehicle but continued to search the immediate area and located the Ford stopped along the right curb in front of a residence.”

CHP officers observed the suspect, who had abandoned the vehicle, run back toward the truck from the front yard of the residence.

The suspect reentered the Ford, made a U-turn, and allegedly intentionally rammed the front end of the patrol vehicle before fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed, according to CHP reports.

“Officers re-engaged in the pursuit, the Ford traversed several city streets, entered the northbound SR-14,” Greengard said.

The SCV chase exited at Sierra Highway, and entered a neighborhood before entering a cul-de-sac and coming to a stop on Friendly Valley Parkway, Greengard said.

“As the Newhall units began conducting a felony stop, the Ford suddenly accelerated ramming the front end of two patrol vehicles,” Greengard said.

The pursuit vehicle temporarily became disabled which allowed Newhall officers to open the driver’s door and take the suspect into custody.

Watkins is due back in court Wednesday.


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High-Speed Pursuit Suspect Charged With Over 10 Felonies 

3 comments

  1. No big deal. Give him a citation and get him back on the streets. We need the crime, and a District Attorney.

  2. Watkins bail was originally set at $75K, later reduced to $50K, but then he was simply released “on citation” on May 30th. However, at his hearing on June 21st they set bail at $360K and he is currently enjoying the accommodations at Men’s Central Jail/Twin Towers.

    The smug smirk on his face in his 2013 booking photo is really something to see…

  3. The Naive, tender minded, bleeding heart, Pollyanna Liberals just don’t get it OR they’re trying to over throw & degenerate the once wonderful USA!!

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About Louie Diaz

Louie was born and raised in Santa Clarita. At the age of two Louie lost his vision due to a brain tumor. However, Louie doesn't let blindness stop him from doing what ever it is he wants to accomplish. Growing up some of his favorite hobbies were wood working, fishing and riding bikes. Louie graduated from College of the Canyon in December of 2017, with a Broadcast Journalism degree. Growing up Louie has always wanted to be a fire fighter or a police officer, but because of his blindness Louie knew that wouldn't work. Louie has always loved listening to police and fire radio traffic, using a scanner, and he figured if he was going to listen to the scanner so much, he should do something with it.