High-speed chase ends in arrest

Gustavo Almanza Pena of Windsor is being held without bond after leading Phillips County Sheriff’s Office on a high-speed chase in Holyoke Sunday, Dec. 29.

According to a press release from PCSO, at approximately 8:31 p.m., a PCSO deputy attempted to contact a suspicious vehicle in the 600 block of South Bowman Avenue. The vehicle then fled at a high rate of speed, resulting in a pursuit through various streets in Holyoke. During the pursuit, the suspect attempted to strike another deputy head-on at a high rate of speed.

As the vehicle approached the intersection of Emerson Street and Reynolds Avenue, the driver lost control and struck a parked vehicle, causing the fleeing vehicle to overturn. The driver fled on foot east from the crash scene. A passenger exited the vehicle and began to fight with deputies. Once the passenger was in custody, a deputy and other responding units from the Holyoke Police Department and PCSO pursued the driver on foot.

The driver, identified as Almanza Pena, was located in the yard of a nearby residence and was taken into custody without incident. A subsequent search of the suspect vehicle revealed approximately 162.23 grams of methamphetamines packaged for sale and drug paraphernalia.

The passenger was released without charges and was transported to the hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. Almanza Pena was transported to the hospital for evaluation.

Almanza Pena will be advised by a district court judge for the following offenses: unlawful distribution of a schedule II controlled substance (class 1 drug felony), unlawful possession of schedule II controlled substance (class 4 drug felony), attempted first-degree assault of a peace officer (class 4 felony), vehicular eluding (class 4 felony), criminal mischief (class 5 felony), driving under the influence of drugs (misdemeanor), reckless driving (traffic misdemeanor), reckless endangerment (class 3 misdemeanor) and violation of protection order (class 3 misdemeanor).