Man arrested after car and foot chase in Santa Cruz County

A Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s deputy helped return a stolen mountain bike and arrested a suspect after a car and foot chase.

According to the sheriff’s office, Deputy Pruger was attempted a vehicle stop on a truck Monday night, but the driver didn’t stop. After leading the deputy on a chase, the driver, identified as Johannes Valenzuela, eventually stopped and then took off on foot. The deputy chased after him and caught him a short time later.

The truck had a fake license plate and a stolen mountain bike worth $3,500 in the bed of the truck.

The bike was returned to the owners.

Valenzuela was booked into jail on several charges including felony evading, possession of stolen property and a parole violation.