Monterey Police Department arrested a man following a neighborhood pursuit when callers reported two vehicles ramming each other near Elm Street and Peter Avenue.
Public Information Officer David Corley said the department received multiple reports of the collision, which one witness described as a demolition derby. Mark A. Whited was taken into custody after a brief chase that ended on Harristown Road.
“The speeds were very, they were elevated for the area in which Mr. Whited was fleeing through,” Corley said. “But there were no no one was in danger no other vehicles or persons or people were placed in danger during the pursuit.”
Corley said responding officers identified the suspect because his vehicle matched witness descriptions and displayed significant exterior damage. Debris from the collision remained in the roadway when police arrived on the scene.
“We’re just thankful that the people in that area called and gave us such detailed description of the incident and the vehicles and that we’re thankful officers were able to get there as quickly as they were and this was put to rest as quickly as possible,” Corley said.
Corley said investigators are currently working to recover surveillance video to determine if any pedestrians were nearby during the initial incident. At least one other vehicle involved in the confrontation sustained damage before police arrived.
“If things had been able to progress it’s possible that there could have been more damage possibly injury,” Corley said. “But thankfully the officers got on scene very quickly and like I said the one vehicle the one vehicle that matched the description that they attempted to stop when he fled they were able to take him into custody within a couple of minutes.”
Whited faced three outstanding warrants that were served upon his arrival at the jail in addition to the new charges from the pursuit. Corley said the department is still investigating the event and may file more charges in the future.
“Anytime that somebody witnesses something if they can, like for example in this situation, that they can give accurate vehicle descriptions of people that are involved and if a vehicle leaves the scene if they can tell what direction that the vehicle left and went,” Corley said. “Things like that are very very beneficial to the officers as they are responding and as a part of the ongoing investigation.”
