People v. Masuda CA3

I. BACKGROUND

A. Case No. 22FE015703 A Sacramento County Sheriff’s deputy in a marked patrol vehicle tried to initiate a traffic stop of a car driven by defendant in September 2022. Defendant sped away, running several stop signs and narrowly avoiding a collision with two other vehicles on the road. He was observed driving at speeds of over 75 miles per hour in a 40-mile-per- hour zone, and 80 miles per hour in a 45-mile-per-hour zone. He was also observed weaving in and out of traffic at approximately 100 miles per hour on Del Norte Boulevard and Fruitridge Road. Defendant eventually collided with a raised curb and pulled into a gas station, where he was taken into custody. He admitted he was aware law enforcement was pursuing him but chose to flee because he was on post-release community supervision with search terms and had marijuana on his person. Defendant was charged by information with one count of felony evasion (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)—count one). The information further alleged that defendant had a prior strike conviction for robbery. (Pen. Code, §§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12.)1 Defendant pled not guilty and denied the prior strike allegation. B. Case…