SUSPECTED CAR THIEF ARRESTED AFTER PURSUIT, CRASH NEAR GROSSMONT COLLEGE

East County News Service

February 27, 2016 (El Cajon) — Joshua Hallmark, 24, is under arrest for vehicle theft and evading law enforcement following a chase that ended in a crash on State Route 125 near Grossmont College on Thursday, February 25^th.  A passenger, Daniel Toft, 28, was also arrested and charged with drug possession.

Sheriff’s deputies received a report of a stolen vehicle in Santee at 4:47 p.m. They spotted the vehicle, a black Honda Civic, near Mission Gorge Rd. and Carleton Hills Blvd. 

According to Sergeant Daniel Morsch, the vehicle was headed south on State Route 125 when a deputy pulled behind and tried to initiate a traffic stop. The driver failed to stop and a pursuit began.  

“The driver appeared to be exiting at Grossmont College Drive, but then swerved back onto State Route 125 and lost control. The vehicle struck the center guardrail of the freeway,” said Sergeant Morsch.

The driver fled on foot into a canyon between State Route 125 and Grossmont College Drive. After a brief search, he was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation related to the collision, then arrested.  Toft was detained in the vehicle.