People v. Quesada CA1/2

BACKGROUND

I. Factual Background A. Prosecution’s Case At around 6:12 p.m. on June 23, 2021, Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputy Cody Castelluccio was on patrol in Bethel Island, wearing a full-duty uniform and driving a marked patrol car with a light bar and siren. A white Chrysler sedan in the parking lot of a gas station caught his attention because it had a

1 registration sticker from 2015. Castelluccio parked and approached the vehicle on foot. Quesada, with whom Castelluccio had previously had contact, was in the driver’s seat; a Black male was in the front passenger seat and a white female was in the back. After the occupants identified themselves, the officer told them he was going to conduct a records check and would be right back. Castelluccio returned to his patrol car but before he was able to conduct the check, the car pulled out and drove quickly out of the parking lot. Castelluccio got into his vehicle and followed the Chrysler on Gateway Road. The speed limit on that road is 45 miles per hour. Based on his own speed as he caught up and paced the Chrysler, Castelluccio testified that Quesada was driving about 60 miles per hour. The area is typically busy around 6:00…