VENTURA : Motorist Held After Chase and Crash

A 29-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a peace officer when he allegedly tried to ram the cars of pursuing officers during a pre-dawn car chase near Ventura, authorities said.

Kevin Patrick Keifer of Oxnard was captured after he lost control of his truck and slammed into a light pole in the 3800 block of North Ventura Avenue, said Sgt. Patrick Buckley of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

The incident began shortly after 4 a.m. Wednesday when patrolling deputies observed Keifer driving recklessly in a residential neighborhood and attempted to stop his vehicle, Buckley said. Instead of stopping, he said, Keifer sped away from the scene and allegedly tried to ram the patrol car of the responding deputy.

The high-speed chase ended a few blocks away when Keifer’s vehicle hit the light pole. Keifer then allegedly tried to back his truck into one of the patrol cars, but a second deputy used his patrol car to push the truck against the pole, pinning Keifer’s vehicle, Buckley said.

Keifer attempted to flee on foot but was captured after a brief chase. He was treated at Ventura County Medical Center for injuries he received in the crash and scuffle with the deputies who arrested him, Buckley said.

Keifer was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, evading and resisting arrest and being under the influence of methamphetamine.

He is being held at Ventura County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Friday, a jailer said.