CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday Clearlake Police officers arrested a Hidden Valley Lake man who witnesses said left the scene of a crash and later led police on a high-speed pursuit in what was determined to be a stolen pickup.

Donald Leos, 19, was arrested on charges including felony evading, felony evading-wrong way driver, felony possession of stolen property, felony stolen vehicle, misdemeanor resisting arrest, misdemeanor hit and run with property damage, and misdemeanor driving under the influence of a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Sgt. Rodd Joseph said officers were dispatched to a report of a property damage hit-and-run collision near the intersections of Old Highway 53 and Saroni Parkway just before 5 a.m. Monday.

Witnesses described the suspect vehicle as a large white diesel pickup truck, Joseph said.

Clearlake Police Officer Chris Reagan, who was heading to the call, observed a lifted white Ford diesel pickup slide into the intersection of Old Highway 53 and Lakeshore Drive, Joseph said. 

The truck matched the description of the suspect vehicle and also had what appeared to be fresh front end damage, according to Joseph.

Joseph said the truck backed up and fled from Reagan, heading on Lakeshore Drive toward Highway 53. Reagan activated his emergency lights and siren and began to pursue the pickup.

The truck headed south on Highway 53 then south onto Highway 29, with speeds ranging between 65 and 110 miles per hour. Joseph said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office also joined the pursuit.  

As the pursued vehicle neared the community of Hidden Valley Lake, the truck crashed through a fence near the main entrance gate and drove out onto the golf course. Joseph said the pickup became disabled and the driver then fled on foot.  

The driver, later identified as Leos, jumped into one of the ponds on the golf course in an attempt to evade capture, a move that proved unsuccessful, Joseph said.

The truck Leos had been driving was discovered to be a stolen vehicle out of Hidden Valley Lake, Joseph said.

Joseph said Leos was exhibiting symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances and was confrontational with officers.  

Leos was transported to Saint Helena Hospital Clear Lake for medical evaluation and later booked into the Lake County Jail, according to Joseph.