CHP plane chases car through North County

June 5, 2015

A California Highway Patrol airplane chased a pair of burglary suspects through North County as they fled by car at speeds of more than 100 mph.

Corona residents Derek Masaru Wolfe, 40, and Marissa Elena Mize, 23, led law enforcement on a chase Wednesday evening that began in rural Paso Robles and ended in Shandon. A San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s commander teamed up with the CHP aircraft to catch the suspects.

Wolfe and Mize reportedly burglarized a home in the 5500 block of Martingale Circle around 6 p.m. The homeowner interrupted the burglary, and when the suspects fled, the property owner began pursuing their car, a sheriff’s office press release states.

As deputies responded to incident, Sheriff’s Commander Ken Conway heard the dispatch call over his radio. The suspects’ vehicle then passed Conway’s unmarked sheriff’s car on Highway 46.

Wolfe was driving more than 100 mph on the shoulder of the road when he passed Conway’s unmarked car.

As the suspects fled on Highway 46, the CHP plane was flying in the area. The plane followed overhead and called out the vehicle’s location and speed. The car reached speeds of more than 120 mph, according to the news release.

Wolfe turned off Highway 46 and into a private driveway in the 1500 block of Cemetery Road in Shandon. The CHP aircraft then relayed the location to Conway, who arrived on scene shortly after the suspects.

Conway ordered Wolfe and Mize to the ground at gunpoint.

Sheriff’s personnel arrested Wolfe for burglary and reckless driving. They arrested Mize for burglary, possession of a controlled substance and resisting a peace officer.

Both Wolfe and Mize remain in San Luis Obispo County Jail. Wolfe’s bail is set at $50,000, and Mize’s bail is $53,500.