People v. Silva CA3

BACKGROUND

In June 2023, law enforcement officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop after they noticed Silva’s car changing lanes without a turn signal and failing to stop at a red light. The officers activated their siren and lights, and Silva fled in his car, leading law enforcement on a 31-mile chase. Silva drove slower than the posted highway speed limit of 65 miles per hour for most of the chase, but at times reached speeds in the “mid-70s.” During the pursuit, Silva swerved between highway lanes and threw plastic bags containing white powder out of the car’s window. Using a spike strip, officers eventually pulled Silva over and found large quantities of suspected narcotics, which police later determined were heroin and fentanyl. Silva told the officers that he had fled because he wanted to kill himself. The People charged Silva with willfully evading a marked patrol car with wanton disregard for the safety of persons and property (Veh. Code, § 2800.2, subd. (a)), possession of heroin for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11351), and possession of fentanyl for sale (Health & Saf. Code, § 11351). The information further alleged that Silva had suffered a prior strike conviction…