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Man arrested after police chase in stolen car

by The AV Times Staff • September 24, 2015

The car chase ended near 17th Street East and Avenue J-2 in Lancaster when the suspect drove onto a curb, jumped out of the car and ran off on foot, officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
The car chase ended near 17th Street East and Avenue J-2 in Lancaster when the suspect drove onto a curb, jumped out of the car and ran off on foot, officials said. [Photo by LUIS MEZA]
LANCASTER – A 37-year-old man was arrested Thursday after leading deputies on a pursuit through central and east Lancaster in a stolen car, authorities said.

John Matthew Sowell was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and assault with a deadly weapon. He allegedly drove the stolen vehicle at several deputies who were outside their patrol cars at the time, according to Deputy Kit Gruppie of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.

It all started around 9:55 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 24, on the 44000 block of Fenhold Street in Lancaster.

The suspect was detained by several deputies in a desert field and arrested. [LUIS MEZA]
The suspect was detained by several deputies in a desert field and arrested. [LUIS MEZA]
“Members of our burglary team were investigating a burglary… As they approached the location, this suspect fled in the white Honda,” said Captain Pat Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. “Believing that a residential burglary had just occurred, they initiated pursuit.”

Deputies pursued the vehicle through several residential neighborhoods in central and east Lancaster until the chase was eventually called off, according to Gruppie.

The suspect was fleeing deputies in a vehicle that was reported stolen. [LUIS MEZA]
The suspect fled deputies in a vehicle that was reported stolen. [LUIS MEZA]
Authorities then deployed Lancaster’s Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System (LEAPS), which located the stolen vehicle parked near 11th Street East with the suspect behind the wheel, Gruppie said.

Deputies made verbal commands for the suspect to exit the vehicle, but he refused and instead drove the vehicle at deputies, according to a Lancaster Station crime broadcast.

The pursuit was reinitiated, Gruppie said, and it continued through residential neighborhoods near 17th and 18th Street East and Avenue J-2.

The car chase ended when the suspect drove onto a curb, jumped out of the car and ran off on foot, Gruppie said.

The suspect was detained by several deputies in a desert field near 17th Street East and Avenue J-2.

John Sowell was arrested around 11 a.m. and booked at the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station on $50,000 bail, according to LASD inmate records.

–

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

44 comments for "Man arrested after police chase in stolen car"

  1. Uncle Tom says

    September 25, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    Nice work deputies. Keep up the good work. Don’t worry about all the haters who obviously know jack all about the good work you do. The intelligent people out here in the world are aware of the kind of things you deal with when you put on the badge, and what kind of toll it can take on a person mentally and physically.

    Once again you have showed the professionalism and skills to apprehend a suspect without using the excessive force that so many people seem to think is standard fare for all law enforcement.

    While you are out there facing the scum of society, trying to keep the peace and get the criminals off the streets, the rest of us get to feel just a little better, a little safer knowing you have removed another POS from the streets.

    Anybody who can’t see past their own lack of intelligence can and should take a page from one of their own. Don’t like how things are here, go ahead and leave. Find another city, state, or country where you might feel more comfortable.

    • Anonymous says

      September 27, 2015 at 9:46 am

      It was Lancaster’s Law Enforcement Aerial Platform System (LEAPS) that located the stolen vehicle.
      Good job, guys!

    • AV Resident says

      September 27, 2015 at 10:12 pm

      Yes nice work deputies. Thanks for not using excessive force. People are not aware of the scum you face on a daily basis. There is always going to be ignorant people who do not see beyond themselves. I really appreciate your work here in the AV.

    • Leah says

      September 28, 2015 at 6:15 am

      I agree Uncle Tom. Very well said.

    • Buddy says

      September 28, 2015 at 11:13 am

      Yes so true

  2. Tom says

    September 25, 2015 at 4:35 pm

    Verify Mr Sowell home address i doubt if he pays rent or a mortgage. For those who receive section 8 and warehouses there baby daddy boyfriends or sons that commit crimes take the section 8 rights away ASP forever.. Crime will go down in the AV.

    • g.mccollum says

      September 25, 2015 at 9:58 pm

      Make the bad guy responsible for his/her actions, …. in LA ? Sorry man, that will never happen.

      • Tom says

        September 25, 2015 at 10:55 pm

        U R 100% right. This exterminator on my job capture this big fat Rat in some sticky solution i ask him how are you going to kill it he said are you crazy I’m going to release this rat on my next job. Job security my man… 100% true store.

      • Alex says

        September 28, 2015 at 10:26 am

        Really because in your world cars are the ones who drive drunk and spoons are responsible for obesity

  3. sasha sowell says

    September 25, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    All ya’ll need to Stfu ok that my cousin all of you sitting here acting childish lol wow all of you must not have lives if you sitting here waisting your time.

    • JDN says

      September 25, 2015 at 2:54 pm

      yOU SAY THIS WITH PRIDE?… WOW!!! I WOULD BE EMBARRASSED. HOW BOUT YOU TELL HIM TO GET A JOB AND STOP STEALING FROM THOSE OF US WHO WORK FOR WHAT WE HAVE. HE PUT LIVES AT RISK BECAUSE HE IS TOO LAZY TO EARN HIS MONEY AND YOU ARE HERE GOING OFF ON PEOPLE !? PLEASE LADY GET A CLUE

      • Kimberly Langford says

        September 25, 2015 at 9:58 pm

        I think what Sasha is trying to say is that your words hurt. He has a family that loves him very much. Hes struggled with addiction and depression for a long time. None of us have been able to help him. I apologize to the families that were affected by his behavior but his family is suffering too. This is painful for everyone involved. Before youre quick to judge maybe you should consider both sides. Hes a son, a brother, and an uncle.

    • evo says

      September 25, 2015 at 3:04 pm

      hahah u got ur self a stupid cus there dont u feel proud? and im assuming he didnt have a life if he was out taking people hard work? your a joke like him ahhaha

  4. Ron says

    September 25, 2015 at 11:01 am

    Just more trash in the AV. Police need to shoot more.

    • Tim Scott says

      September 25, 2015 at 11:30 am

      There are countries in the world where trial by jury has never been instituted. You are welcome to move to one. Don’t let the door hit you on your way out.

    • someone says

      September 25, 2015 at 12:30 pm

      Stfu that’s my cousin we should go shoot you so shut up

      • HMM says

        September 25, 2015 at 2:49 pm

        AV Times,

        You should probably remove all comments to this story. Between the ridiculous comments about Law enforcement and a family member threating to shoot someone, it has all gone a bit to far.

        • Eric says

          September 26, 2015 at 9:23 am

          First time visiting the site? Generally every article devolves into this. If you know someone in the community who suffered a loss, I’d strongly advise that you urge them NOT to visit this site to read about it.

      • T says

        September 26, 2015 at 9:12 pm

        And end up like your cousin. Your family has made some real winners huh?

    • Claire says

      September 25, 2015 at 1:00 pm

      I am one of those people you call trash. I broke the law in a big way and did my time without complaining. I decided to change my mind, and turned around and took another direction. Thanks to God’s grace and mercy I am learning to be a productive member of society. As long as I am still breathing, I hope I can make a difference with others that are still struggling. A bullet is too final too often. I have witnessed amazing transformations.

    • g.mccollum says

      September 25, 2015 at 10:04 pm

      Yep, … if they are as stupid as this guy he could run for President and conceivably be voted into office.

    • Ryan Hunt says

      September 27, 2015 at 12:45 am

      Please don’t refer to any living being as trash, we have no idea the affliction and misfortune the other of our fellow man has been subjected to. Not all of us are so evenly keeled. I pray for his healing and restoration.

  5. Danny says

    September 24, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    He realy needed a good beat down, too bad.whats the dirt bike cop doing their shouldn’t he be up in the hills so much for our tax dollars I supported them but not anymore.

    • Ryan Hunt says

      September 26, 2015 at 11:24 pm

      Actually, I would prefer they stay off the hills, unless it is private property. There are some good riding trails in them there hills by the looks of it.

    • leah says

      September 28, 2015 at 7:36 am

      Danny the dirt bike cop might have been on their way back from desert dirt biking…. Getting off work and decided to help the others.

  6. AVPOPPYGAL says

    September 24, 2015 at 7:49 pm

    Good

  7. [removed] says

    September 24, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    If wasn’t for the stormtrooper outfits, It would be difficult to tell the car thief from the pigs.

    • av boy says

      September 24, 2015 at 7:58 pm

      Dont worry theyll be coming for you too one day or another.. low life scum like you always stay messing up and getting arrested.

      • [removed] says

        September 24, 2015 at 8:07 pm

        Nice try AV boy, but wrong again. After I left AV, cops don’t even look at me. Only in hillbilly AV with it’s predatory revenue collecting pigs did I ever have any trouble.

    • dumbandblind says

      September 24, 2015 at 9:10 pm

      I wonder what you have against law enforcement who risk their lives every day for you and me. Please explain why you call those who clean up scum, pigs otherwise say what you have to say in front of those concerned not hiding like a cowardly dog with his tail tucked under his non existent scrotum.

      • Tim Scott says

        September 25, 2015 at 4:37 pm

        They aren’t risking their lives for you and me. Statistically, they aren’t really risking their lives much at all, but they certainly aren’t doing anything for me. If you are married to one and living off their paycheck I suppose they might be doing it for you, in a way.

    • DEW says

      September 25, 2015 at 1:02 am

      Haha! I love the wit displayed here. Stormtrooper outfits! Genius!

      Not really. You are an oxygen theif. Go apologize to a tree or a kelp bed for making work so hard keeping you alive.

      • ImThatGuy says

        September 25, 2015 at 11:47 am

        A cop has almost ruined my life, but never once saved it. Only thing cops protect is the status quo. The only good cop is a…

        • Tim Scott says

          September 25, 2015 at 11:49 am

          …cop who stands up for the rights of citizens even if it is in defiance of his fellow officers. In other words, there aren’t any.

        • StopSayingStupidSh*t says

          September 25, 2015 at 12:06 pm

          Cop has ruined your life and never saved it, then you must be a criminal.

        • Buddy says

          September 28, 2015 at 9:56 am

          …cop that set you straight cause you are not sitting in the pen like the rest. You almost ruined your own life son be responsible for your own actions.

        • Alex says

          September 28, 2015 at 11:30 am

          Maybe he did save it by ALMOST ruining it

    • D.J. Hernandez says

      September 25, 2015 at 9:25 am

      I bet if they stole your car, you would be quick to call the police and start crying for them to help you. You’re a two faced person or a poker face.

      • ImThatGuy says

        September 25, 2015 at 2:24 pm

        I wouldn’t call the police if my entire house was cleaned out at gunpoint. When the government wages it’s war against the people, cops will be the first ones sticking a gun in your face.

        • Tim Scott says

          September 25, 2015 at 4:35 pm

          Wise choice.

          House has been cleaned out. Or house has been cleaned out and stuck in a conversation with some arrogant prig with a badge. Seems obvious which of those is the lesser of the two evils.

          • Not an idiot says

            September 25, 2015 at 10:02 pm

            Tim Scott must have flunked his entrance exam into the law enforcement academy. I know he could never pass the psychological test. That’s the real secret behind his hatred for them.

          • Tim Scott says

            September 28, 2015 at 3:24 pm

            And another idiot joins the parade of random speculation about my past. Sign up with Claire, she is the president of my fan club.

        • Ryan Hunt says

          September 26, 2015 at 11:18 pm

          Law enforcement would not back a government who wages a war against their citizens, that’s why the government made a deal with Russia to send their troops onto our soil to enforce their power and control if it ever came down to it.

          • Tim Scott says

            September 27, 2015 at 2:47 am

            Yep. They certainly balked at the “war on drugs”…oh, wait, they seemed to enjoy that.

            But at least our local cops balked at the mayor’s “war on section 8.” Oh, wait. Actually their response was more like “Wheeeeeee! Home invasions! What fun!”

            Apparently we cannot even begin to count on this idea that law enforcement wouldn’t back a government waging war on the citizens.

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