Stolen Box Truck Driver Charged in Multi-County Pursuit Ending in Ventura

By Redaccion
[email protected]

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced today that Armando Gutierrez (DOB 11/06/75), of El Monte, has been charged with four felony counts and two misdemeanors related to a vehicle pursuit through parts of Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The charges include assault with a deadly weapon, evading an officer, unlawful taking of a vehicle, receiving stolen property, driving under the influence of any alcohol or drug, and resisting arrest. Gutierrez is also charged with the special allegations that he has prior strike offenses and prior serious or violent felony convictions.

Gutierrez was arraigned on March 8, 2024, and pled not guilty to all charges.

On March 6, 2024, Gutierrez is accused of stealing a box truck while the driver was making a delivery to an address in Los Angeles. The truck, containing thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise, was reported stolen. The owner was able to provide Los Angeles police with GPS coordinates. LAPD located the truck and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the truck evaded, and a pursuit began. The pursuit went along Pacific Coast Highway and into Ventura County before eventually weaving its way to Highway 101. During the chase, Gutierrez is accused of intentionally ramming another truck. After exiting the freeway, Gutierrez continued to drive erratically, including driving in the opposite lane of traffic near Johnson Drive in Ventura. The pursuit came to an end when the truck drove off the road and into a grass embankment. Gutierrez exited the vehicle and attempted to flee on foot before being arrested by the California Highway Patrol.

Deputy District Attorney Nadia Aboujawdah, a member of the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Auto Theft Unit, is prosecuting the case.

Gutierrez is scheduled to be back in court for an early disposition hearing on March 19, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 11 of the Ventura County Superior Court. He remains in custody with bail set at $500,000.

Case: 2024006291
Defendant Information:
Armando Gutierrez (DOB 11/06/75)
El Monte

Charged with:

• PC 245(a)(1) – Assault with deadly weapon
• VC 2800.2(a) – Evading an officer, willful disregard
• VC 10851(a) – Unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle
• PC 496d(a) – Receiving stolen property, motor vehicle
• VC 23152(g) – Driving under the influence of any alcohol and drug
• PC 148(a)(1) – Resist, obstruct, delay arrest

Special Allegations:

• PC 667S2 – Strike priors
• PC 1170(h)(3) – Prior serious or violent felony convictions