The man who led Sheriff deputies on a car chase through the desert that started a fire in Yucca Valley in July was arraigned in Joshua Tree Court Monday. Kristofer Shoup, 23, of Sugarloaf, was arrested Friday at his home on multiple warrants by a Special Enforcement unit of the Sheriff’s Department. July 9, a deputy attempted to make a traffic stop on a white pick-up truck driven by Shoup. Shoup sped away and led the deputy through residential neighborhoods in Yucca Valley. While trying to escape Shoup drove his truck out into the open desert at Carlyle and Tamarisk, where the truck became stuck in the sand and caught fire, sparking a 10-15 acre brush fire. Fast response by firefighters kept the fire from spreading to nearby homes. Shoup managed to escape a massive manhunt for him then and for the next six months. Kristofer Shoup pled Not Guilty to evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; causing a fire of a forest, and driving with a suspended license. His bail is set at $200,000.
