On 9-20-2012 at about 1:54am, a Hemet Police Officer witnessed a white Toyota pick-up truck driving run a stop sign at Latham Avenue and Juanita Street at about 50 miles per hour. The officer caught up with the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop near Taylor Street and Oakland Avenue.
The driver refused to stop and accelerated away, driving east on Oakland Avenue. A pursuit was initiated and, due to the time, traffic was minimal. Officers followed the suspect vehicle around Hemet and into the Valle Vista area east of Hemet. In the area of Soboba Street and Mountain Avenue, the driver backed into a police unit causing damage.
The suspect continued after the collision and finally pulled over on Howard Street in the Valle Vista area, east of Hemet. The driver was arrested and is facing several serious charges.
Arrested was:
Gunnar Halman 24 years from Hemet.
At the termination of the pursuit, Halman stopped his truck, and then pulled forward slightly as if he was going to flee again. Halman put his hands out the open driver’s window, and then put them back in, and then put them out again. Halman put his hands in/out approximately three times. Officer Klinzing deployed the pepper ball gun into the cab of the truck. Halman exited the truck and put his hands in the air. Halman then re-entered the truck as if he was going to flee. Officer Gonzalez, Trainee Akin, Officer Klinzing, and Officer Baily, approached the truck and attempted to extract Halman. Officer Gonzalez deployed his ECD and it was effective. However, as soon as the officers removed Halman from the truck, he began to resist arrest. Officer Gonzalez deployed his ECD a second time, and Halman was taken into custody.
The entire pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes and traveled a total distance of 7 miles. Speeds reached 80 to 90 miles per hour, so the involved units were downed for mechanical inspection. I had supervisory control over the pursuit and ensured all policies were followed. No officers were injured. Officer Klinzing’s assigned patrol car (unit #3005) received minor damage to the push bumper, and radiator. Halman was medically cleared for booking, and was charged with DUI, 2800.2(a) VC, and 148 PC. (File #12-108267)