HIGH SPEED CHASE THROUGH LANDERS ENDS AFTER SPIKE STRIPS DEPLOYED

A man was arrested Thursday morning following a high-speed pursuit through Landers that ended only after deputies deployed spike strips. According to the California Highway Patrol, Officer Caleb Miller spotted a silver Nissan Quest driving approximately 95 miles per hour southbound on Highway 247, north of Boone Road, about 7:35 a.m. Miller conducted a traffic stop on the car, and Miller determined that the driver, Mitchell Thomas, 44, of Victorville, had a suspended driver’s license. When Miller informed Thomas that his car would be impounded due to the suspended license, Thomas sped off. Miller said as he pursued Thomas, Thomas drove recklessly at high speeds and passed several other vehicles in a dangerous manner. When Thomas approached Landers Elementary School on Reche Road, the CHP called off the pursuit. A Sheriff’s deputy later saw Thomas, who had turned around and was driving northbound on 247, and the pursuit began again. A CHP helicopter was called in to provide aerial support during the pursuit. Deputies used a spike strip to disable Thomas’s car on Old Woman Springs Road near Camp Rock Road. Mitchell Thomas was arrested for investigation of reckless evading of a peace officer, and assault on a peace officer with intent to cause great bodily harm and booked at the Morongo Basin Jail. Thomas is being held without bail due to other felony warrants for his arrest.