Man convicted of evading police to be sentenced

VISTA (CNS) – A man who was under the influence of drugs when he led deputies on a high-speed chase in the North County was scheduled to be sentenced Thursday.

Matthew Wayne Ross, 31, pleaded guilty to a felony count of evading police and a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of drugs in connection with the Jan. 6 pursuit.

Shortly before 11 p.m. Jan. 6, deputies saw a dark Dodge Dart go through a red light at West Mission and Nordahl roads in Escondido, said San Diego County sheriff’s Sgt. Paul Michalke.

The ensuing pursuit went westbound into San Marcos, with the suspect reaching speeds of more than 75 miles per hour and narrowly avoiding a collision with another vehicle at one point, the sergeant said. It ended just west of West Mission and North Rancho Santa Fe roads after deputies deployed a spike strip that flattened three of the Dart’s four tires.

Ross struggled with deputies while he was being taken into custody and was bitten on his right shoulder by a police dog, Michalke said.