Evaluation Ordered for Agitated Driver

A 41-year-old Santa Paula man was undergoing a psychiatric evaluation Thursday after threatening to kill himself with a handgun in front of two police officers who stopped him following a high-speed chase in Santa Paula, authorities said.

The pursuit began at 3 a.m. Thursday on California 150 at Santa Barbara Street when a southbound white 1987 Plymouth Horizon passed Santa Paula Police Officer Troyce Reynolds at a high rate of speed, officials said. Reynolds was joined by Officer Jesus Quezada in pursuing the car west on Harvard Boulevard at speeds of more than 80 mph, said Sgt. Steve Carter.

When the driver of the Plymouth got to Teague Park, about one mile from the highway, he made a U-turn on Harvard Boulevard and allegedly tried to ram Reynolds’ car, Carter said.

Officers followed the car east on Harvard Boulevard to California 150 and then north to the 3000 block, where they were able to block the car.

The motorist held a .357-caliber handgun to his chest and threatened to kill himself, according to Carter. Officers negotiated with the man for 10 minutes before he threw the gun out of the car and surrendered.

The man, who told officers he was having money and health problems, was taken to the county mental health facility in Ventura.

The case will be turned over to the district attorney’s office for prosecution, pending the results of the man’s psychiatric evaluation, according to Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Bob Gonzales.

Authorities would not release the man’s name.

“I think the individual owes his life to the officers,” Gonzales said. “For them to show the restraint they did when he showed his weapon, I think made an ugly situation end up pretty good.”