A Twentynine Palms man was arrested after a high speed chase at speeds of over 120 Miles per Hour in Twentynine Palms This Morning. According to the Morongo Basin CHP, at 9:12 am., Officer Stephano observed a green colored Jeep Cherokee driving south on Lear Avenue at approximately 80 MPH. Officer Stephano attempted an enforcement stop and the driver, later identified as Mitchell Chris Grier, 55, refused to stop and attempted to evade arrest by accelerating to 97 MPH. Grier began driving recklessly, at times hard braking in an apparent attempt to cause the pursuing officer to crash. Grier continued to evade, turning east onto SR-62 without stopping at the intersection. Grier accelerated to over 120 MPH eastbound into Twentynine Palms, at which time, in the interest of public safety, the CHP terminated pursuit. As the pursuit ended, Grier immediately attempted a high-speed left turn onto northbound Sunrise Road. was unable to negotiate the turn, and drove the vehicle out into the desert where the vehicle became disabled. Officer Stephano, having observed Grier’s vehicle become disabled in the open desert, attempted to take Grier into custody. Grier then fled on foot but was apprehended at gunpoint by Officer Stephano without further incident. Mitchell Chris Grier will be booked into the Morongo basin jail for investigation of Assault with a deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer, Felony Evading, and resisting arrest.
