Man Arrested After Chase on Freeway
A Ventura man who allegedly led police on a 45-minute freeway chase remained in custody Tuesday at the Santa Barbara County Jail.
Christopher Gene Mackey, 18, was arrested on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a concealed weapon and evading arrest after he allegedly led police on a high-speed chase Monday night through Ventura and north past Santa Barbara, a California Highway Patrol spokesman said.
The chase began south of Ventura on Harbor Boulevard about 8:30 p.m. when officers tried to pull Mackey over, believing the 1989 Plymouth van he was driving was stolen. But he took off, reaching speeds of 90 mph on Harbor Boulevard and then the Ventura Freeway.
Officers were able to stop him and arrest him at El Capitan State Beach north of Santa Barbara after they laid a “spike strip” across the freeway.
Mackey is being held at the jail in lieu of $5,000 bail.
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