SCOTTS VALLEY — Police have charged a 40-year-old man with attempted murder after a vehicle chase and shooting Tuesday night and are seeking the public’s help finding a second individual.
The police encounter began shortly before 10 p.m. when a California Highway Patrol officer observed a sport utility vehicle parked on a southbound Highway 17 shoulder just north of Glenwood Drive, agency spokesperson Officer Alyssa Gutierrez said. While the officer was checking to see if the motorist was having car trouble, a female driver started the vehicle, a black GMC Yukon, and accelerated south on the highway with a male passenger inside, Gutierrez said.
The officer, suspecting possible driver intoxication, followed the GMC and unsuccessfully attempted to pull the driver to a stop, launching a pursuit into the city of Scotts Valley, via the Scotts Valley Drive exit.
“Moments later, the male passenger began shooting at the officers, causing the officers to discontinue the pursuit,” Gutierrez said.
No officers were injured nor patrol vehicles damaged in the shooting, according to Gutierrez.
The GMC was later found abandoned on Tabor Drive a short time later. CHP units searched the area with help from Scotts Valley Police Department, Santa Cruz Police Department and its armored BearCat tactical unit and the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. Around 11 p.m., the Scotts Valley Police Department issued a shelter-in-place alert for Bethany Drive, Vine Hill School Road and Tabor Drive, due to the investigation. A staging area also was established at Scotts Valley High School. Officers were unable to locate the two individuals and the shelter-in-place warning was lifted shortly after 4 a.m., Gutierrez said.
It was not until shortly after 7 a.m. Wednesday that CHP officers were alerted to a male pedestrian allegedly matching the description of the shooter, seen walking alongside Highway 17 near Laurel Road. During a subsequent search of the area, officers found a weapon, according to Gutierrez. Kristopher Payopay of Lathrop has been arrested on suspicion of two counts of attempted murder, assault with a firearm, possession of a controlled substance while armed, being a felon in possession of a firearm and a felon in possession of ammunition, Gutierrez said.
Investigators continued Wednesday morning to seek the driver, who investigators believe may be 41-year-old Alexandria Luevanos. She was last seen wearing a pink hooded jacket, has red hair and is approximately 5-foot-7-inches tall and 130 pounds. Community members with related information are asked to contact the CHP’s Santa Cruz-area office, at 831-662-0411.
Source: www.mercurynews.com