Irvine police arrest man in sexual assault after chase

[naganthunter]

It would appear this BG chose the wrong house to try and hide from the police in....
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IRVINE Police arrested a 27-year-old man from La Puente this morning who they said led them on a "wild foot and car chase" through Irvine streets, backyards and homes after he fled the house where authorities said he was accused of committing a sexual assault.

An 18-year-old woman called Irvine Police Department at 2:50 a.m. saying she was sexually assaulted by Miguel Angel Romero, who she met through an acquaintance and accepted a ride from to get home, said Lt. Rick Handfield of the Irvine Police Department.

She said once inside her home, Romero cornered her, held her down and sexually assaulted her, Handfield said.

Before police arrived to investigate, Romero fled, Handfield said, but his vehicle was seen at 3:55 a.m. in the neighborhood by officers.

Three police officers stopped Romero, who they said is a self-proclaimed gang member, in the vehicle as he was driving towards them, Handfield said. A police sergeant asked him to surrender, and he put his hands up.

"It appeared the subject was going to be cooperative, and then he gassed it," Handfield said.

Romero narrowly missed hitting two officers, one in a police car, according to Handfield. A third officer attempted to pin Romero's car to a wall, but hit a garage door with the front of his car.

Police chased the man through Irvine streets a short distance until he stopped at Lemongrass and West Yale Loop, jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards houses.

Irvine Police called on Newport Beach and Costa Mesa police departments with canine units for help in searching for the suspect in backyards. A Los Angeles Sheriff's Department helicopter also assisted.

"Then a woman came out of a house screaming," Handfield said. "She was frantic."

The woman said a man was inside her house, and her husband had grabbed a gun to confront Romero. Romero ran out of the house when he saw the husband with the gun, Handfield said.

Police caught Romero at about 4:40 a.m., shortly after he ran from the house. No one was injured in the chase.

Romero – who is being charged with sexual assault, false imprisonment, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, resisting arrest and using his car to escape officers – is being held on $1 million bail.