A man was arrested on suspicion of leading law enforcement on a pursuit through Joshua Tree and down the Morongo grade, hitting speeds of 120 mph before being apprehended in Banning.
Just before 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning (March 27), San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputies received a call for assistance from the California Highway Patrol on the driver of a Ford Mustang who they say had failed to pull over for a speed-related traffic stop. The pursuit is reported to have initiated on Twentynine Palms Highway near Bonita Road in Joshua Tree.
The driver, identified by the Sheriff’s office as Miquan Byrd, 22, led authorities in a pursuit westbound on Twentynine Palms Highway, during which he is said to have hit speeds above 107 miles per hour and run at least two stop lights.
Byrd is alleged to have crossed through several jurisdictions, involving the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, the Beumont and Desert Hot Springs Police Departments, and several distinct CHP jurisdictions, including the Morongo Basin, Indio, and San Gorgonio offices.
As Byrd entered the westbound 10 freeway, law enforcement agencies coordinated to use road spikes to stop the vehicle, failing twice.
Byrd is alleged to have continued westbound on the 10 until he entered Banning, where a third attempt at stopping the vehicle with traffic spikes was successful. The Mustang came to a stop, and representatives from the Banning Police Department said that Byrd fled the vehicle on foot. He was ultimately apprehended by CHP officers at a gas station near 22nd St and Ramsey St. in Banning.
Miquan Byrd was arrested on suspicion of felony evading with wanton disregard for safety and booked into the West Valley Detention Center on $100,000 bail. He is facing additional charges of driving under the influence and with a suspended driver’s license.
