Two suspected burglars were arrested Friday following a pursuit from Twentynine Palms to Joshua Tree. Just before 1 p.m. Friday, a neighbor called deputies to report there was a U-Haul in a driveway in the 71400 block of Barnes Avenue in Twentynine Palms, and the owner said no one should be at the house. The neighbor followed the U-Haul westbound on 2 Mile Road and south on Lear Avenue while reporting the truck’s location and direction of travel.
One deputy went to the home that had been burglarized and found forced entry into the house, with many items out of place.
Another deputy located the U-Haul, being driven by Jason Lopez, 34, of Joshua Tree, near Sunflower Road in Joshua Tree. In the passenger seat was Jeff Bradshaw, 38, also of Joshua Tree. The deputy said Lopez appeared to accelerate toward his patrol unit, and the deputy had to reverse to avoid a collision.
Lopez refused to stop and a pursuit ensued, with speeds up to 70 miles per hour through residential neighborhoods. Lopez also ran stop signs and drove into oncoming traffic on Highway 62 before ending up near the new Joshua Tree Elementary School. Lopez and Bradshaw fled the U-Haul on foot, but were taken into custody.
Deputies located property stolen from the Twentynine Palms home inside the U-Haul.
Jason Lopez and Jeff Bradshaw were arrested for investigation of burglary, and possession of stolen property, with an additional charge of felony failure to yield for Lopez. Jeff Bradshaw was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail with his bail set at $75,000; Jason Lopez, who had multiple warrants for his arrest, was booked into the Morongo Basin Jail, with his total bail set at $305,000.
