Stolen Truck Breaks Down During Police Chase

A man driving a stolen pickup sped away from authorities Tuesday morning, prompting a chase into rural Watsonville before the truck broke down and the driver bailed, Watsonville police reported.

The driver, 33-year-old Ian Imperio of Watsoville, was caught nearby, police said. 

The pursuit started around 7 a.m. near Compton Terrace and Freedom Boulevard in Watsonville when a Watsonville police officer assigned to the county's Auto theft Reduction and Enforcement Team spotted a 2005 maroon Toyota Tacoma that had been stolen from Santa Cruz back in February, police reported. 

Additional officers responded to stop the vehicles but once the lights on the police cars were activated, the driver sped away. The chase headed west on Airport Boulevard toward Highway 1 at 60 mph, police reported. 

Near Holm Road, a large ball of smoke came from the truck and the vehicle slowed. Still, the driver continued onto Larkin Valley Road and turned right onto Buena Vista Drive. There, the truck stopped and the driver jumped out, police said.

Officers caught him about 100 yards from the smoking truck, which rolled backward and crashed into two police cruisers, authorities said. 

Imperio reportedly had methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia on him. He was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, evading police, resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia.