Observant Kings County deputy arrests erratic driver following pursuit that ended in a slough

The deputy believed the driver was driving while under the influence and initiated a traffic enforcement stop.

The driver, later identified as suspect Alexis Sanchez, refused to pull over, and a pursuit ensued.

According to the Kings County Sheriff’s Department, Sanchez continued to drive over the fog line during and at one point, the suspect went into the oncoming lane of travel. No other vehicles were in the oncoming lane.

Sanchez proceeded to drive into the Tachi Rancheria in an attempt to evade the deputy. The entrance to the Tachi Rancheria is controlled with a gate and one-way tire deflation spikes. When Sanchez drove over the spikes, they punctured all four tires.

Sanchez then sped through the Rancheria’s residential neighborhoods and then entered a slough area that runs on the south side of the Rancheria. The suspect drove her vehicle in a circle at one point as the deputy shined a spotlight into the driver’s side window, clearly seeing the driver.

The chase through the slough continued for several minutes until the Suburban came to a stop on Kent Avenue.

Deputies detained the suspect and a passenger. Sanchez told deputies that she had never driven the vehicle and was merely a passenger. However, the deputy who initially pursued her identified Sanchez as the driver, and he took her into custody.

Deputies determined later that Sanchez had an elevated blood alcohol level and had been driving under the influence of alcohol.

Deputies booked the suspect into the Kings County Jail on felony charges that included evading, evading in the opposite direction of traffic, and driving under the influence. Bail was set at $60,000.