Highway 101 Pursuit Ends in Arrest

Carpinteria- March 24th, 2010

Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested a Long Beach man following a high speed pursuit on Highway 101 south of Carpinteria.

Just after 10:30am on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, Sheriff’s Dispatchers received a call that a man had stolen a car from his girlfriend outside a grocery store on the 800 block of Linden Avenue in Carpinteria.

At approximately 10:55am a Sheriff’s Deputy on the Casitas Pass overpass spotted a Jeep Cherokee driving southbound on Highway 101 that matched the description of the victim’s car. When the deputy attempted to pull over the car near La Conchita, the suspect sped off at a high rate of speed.

Aviation units from both SBSO and Ventura Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to assist. Just as the California Highway Patrol was joining the pursuit near the Main Street exit in Ventura County, the suspect veered his vehicle across two southbound lanes and off the right side of the road before coming to rest in very heavy brush about 100 yards down an embankment.

The crash knocked the driver unconscious. Due to damage to the Jeep, deputies were forced to rescue the suspect by pulling him through the back hatch of the vehicle. No one else was injured as a result of this incident.

The suspect was transported to a hospital where he’s being treated for non-life threatening injuries. He will be moved to the Santa Barbara County Main Jail once he’s medically cleared. In the meantime, he’ll be booked absentia.

  Erick Tanane Balint (DOB 11/10/80) faces several charges including Robbery (211 PC), Vehicle Theft (10851 VC), Evading with wanton disregard for safety (2800(2)(a) VC), Driving without a license (12500 VC), and Domestic Violence (243(e)(1) PC). Balint may also face driving under the influence charges pending toxicology results.

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