A high-speed chase Sunday afternoon wound out of Modesto, through Riverbank and ended when the fleeing car ran out of gas in a Macy's parking lot at Vintage Faire Mall, Modesto police said.
Tracy McCarroll, 38, was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and evading arrest -- both felonies -- as well as on a warrant for failure to appear at a work program as part of his sentence on a previous conviction. Police said they found baggies of marijuana and a scale in the car.
The chase began after a passer-by called 911 to report that a woman was being pulled into a small car against her will. The caller had the license plate number, Sgt. David Chamberlain said.
Three minutes later, at 2:45 p.m., a patrol car at Rose and Briggsmore avenues saw a black Ford Escort with the matching license plate number and tried to pull the car over. "As soon as the lights came on, the individual accelerated," Chamberlain said.
The car took off down Briggsmore Avenue, turned up Claus Road to Patterson Road, drove through Riverbank, and wound its way west and south to the mall. McCarroll was arrested at 3 p.m., having covered about 17 miles, including some areas with heavy traffic, in 15 minutes.
Chamberlain had no estimate of top speed but said there were no collisions or other traffic incidents caused by the chase.
Police officers and Stanislaus County sheriff's deputies boxed the car in at the Macy's lot. McCarroll was arrested without incident.
The woman, in her late 30s, was not identified. She was described by witnesses as having a cast on her arm and purple bruising around one eye. She did know McCarroll, Chamberlain said.
Bee staff writer Nan Austin can be reached at naustin@modbee.com or 578-2339.
RSS
E-Mail
Print
reprint or license
