A 26-year-old man from Phoenix, Arizona, was taken into custody after an alleged train burglary that led to a dangerous wrong-way pursuit on a Southern California interstate, authorities announced Tuesday.
The Jan. 26 incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. in Needles, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a news release.
Deputies with the department’s Colorado River Sheriff’s Station were assisting BSNF Railroad Police after receiving reports of a possible train burglary and a suspect, now identified as Joan Moises Valdez-Acuna, fleeing the scene in a white van.
The 26-year-old failed to comply when deputies attempted a traffic stop and led them in a chase westbound on Interstate 40.
“During the pursuit, the driver crossed over the center median and began traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes,” sheriff’s officials said. “Deputies paralleled the vehicle until the driver exited the van and fled on foot into the desert, leaving the vehicle in the eastbound lanes of I-40.”
The van continued rolling and eventually came to a stop in the desert, officials added.
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Valdez-Acuna was taken into custody after a foot pursuit with deputies and was booked at the Colorado River Station Jail for felony evading and wrong-way driving, the release noted. He is being held on $300,000 bail.
Investigators did not provide information on whether any stolen property was recovered in the van.
The investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact SBSD Deputy R. Goff at 760-326-9200. Those wishing to remain anonymous should contact the WeTip Hotline at 800-78-CRIME or leave tips online at www.wetip.com.
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