A Morongo Valley man was arrested after leading police on a high-speed pursuit through residential neighborhoods of Yucca Valley Monday night. Witnesses say the many was experiencing “drug hallucinations” in a Stater Bros. parking lot shortly before the chase began.
Benjamin Johnson, 39, was spotted by employees in the grocery store parking lot in Yucca Valley at about 10:45 pm. According to Z107.7, those workers told police Johnson was high:
Store employees said Johnson was behaving erratically, experiencing drug hallucinations, and broke out the window of his white van in the parking lot. They told deputies Johnson yelled at them to call 911. When an employee called 911, Johnson allegedly tried to run over the employee.
Johnson drove away before police arrived and a 13-mile pursuit ensued. He blew through traffic stops and was driving as fast as 60 miles-per-hour through residential neighborhoods before turning onto 29 Palms Highway and speeding up to 80 mph.
The CHP deployed spike strips near Sunburst Avenue in Joshua Tree and Johnson pulled over in the parking lot of Hi-Desert Medical Center a little bit after 11 pm.
Johnson was arrested for investigation of felony failure to yield, assault with a deadly weapon, and driving under the influence of drugs.
