Fleeing parolee leads deputies on wild chase

October 11, 2012

A parolee driving a stolen car fled from law enforcement officers Wednesday evening in Pismo Beach led to a multi-agency chase that ended in a Grover Beach backyard.

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office sought Leon Clowers III Wednesday for being a parolee at large and allegedly driving a stolen vehicle. Members of the Sheriff’s Gang Task Force attempted to stop Clowers’ vehicle around 5:30 p.m. near the entrance to the Pismo Coast Village RV Park on Highway 1.

Clowers, 28, did not stop and instead led deputies on a pursuit that caused multiple accidents, including a collision with an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle.

The suspect then fled by foot in Grover Beach, where he hid in a backyard as a CHP helicopter flew above and sheriff and Arroyo Grande police K9 dogs followed his tracks. The dogs eventually found Clowers hiding in the backyard of a house on the 100 block of Carmelde Court.

Officers transported Clowers to Arroyo Grande Hospital for treatment of his dog bites before booking him in county jail for possession of narcotics, possession of a handgun while trafficking narcotics, possession of a stolen vehicle and a violation of parole. Clowers later received an additional charge of burglary.