Homeless man leads police on wild California pursuit in stolen car, crashes into riverbed, cops say

In a dramatic turn of events, Ontario Police apprehended Joshua Mikulay of Norwalk after a high-speed pursuit that traversed 45 miles through surface streets, various freeways, and two counties, investigators said.

The incident unfolded on February 2, 2024, at 4:13 P.M. when Ontario Police received a notification about a stolen vehicle in the area of Mission Blvd/Euclid Ave.

The stolen vehicle, identified as a Toyota pickup truck reported stolen earlier in the day from the city of Tustin, was located at AM-PM (1054 W. Mission Blvd) where suspect Mikulay was pumping gas, police said. Officers swiftly responded, attempting to block the vehicle to prevent Mikulay from fleeing. However, Mikulay defied officer commands, got into the driver’s seat, and revved his engine toward an officer and his unit, police said. The quick-thinking officer managed to back away safely, avoiding a potential collision.

Mikulay then struck a bollard and two other vehicles before making a daring escape onto Mission Blvd. What ensued was a harrowing 45-mile pursuit marked by speeds reaching up to 95 miles per hour, police said. Throughout the chase, Mikulay exhibited complete disregard for public safety, intentionally running stop signs, red lights, and even driving into opposing lanes of traffic, according to police.

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