Two Rapid City car chases end in arrests

Vehicle speed ranged between 25-70 mph during Saturday night chase

By Journal staff | Monday, July 21, 2008

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Arrests were made after two police pursuits late Saturday night and early Sunday morning by responding Rapid City police officers, according to Sergeant Eli Diaz of the Rapid City Police Department.

Matthew Wright, 18 of Rapid City, was arrested on charges of aggravated eluding, driving under the influence, driving without a driver's license for failing the exam, open container, false impersonation and hit and run accident.

Wright was arrested Saturday evening after an officer saw a subject sitting in the vehicle's open window, clinging to the vehicle with his hands in the air. The officer conducted a traffic stop about 9:30 p.m. and saw several beer containers as he approached the vehicle.

A female passenger ran from the vehicle, Diaz said. When the officer went to bring her back, the driver sped toward north Lacrosse and East Denver. The pursuit continued through south Rapid City and ended up in the west part of the city where tire deflators were set up at Canyon Lake Road and Soo San Drive. During the pursuit, Wright side-swiped a motorist, who was trying to yield to the police officer's car, Diaz said.

The female was never found or identified, Diaz said. Passenger Cyril White Eagle, 19, was also arrested on charges of disorderly conduct for waving gang signs at people, minor consuming and for clinging to a motor vehicle. The chase lasted 11 minutes and speeds ranged from 25-70 mph, Diaz said.

In a separate car chase early Sunday, Stephanie Garcia, 19, of Rapid City was charged with aggravated eluding, driving under the influence 3, driving under revocation, minor consuming and open container in the vehicle, according to Diaz.

Garcia was allegedly driving a van without the headlights on. An officer attempted to conduct a stop about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, Diaz said, but instead of pulling over, the driver continued to head southbound on Haines from Pahasapa Road. Garcia continued south into the area of Minuetemen Drive and North Seventh Street where it stopped in the parking lot of an apartment complex at 1201 Atlas St.

Garcia ran from the van, but was tackled by an officer. The passenger, Kalyn Quest, 18, of Rapid City also ran from the van and tried to open a door of the complex. Both she and Garcia were detained. Quest was arrested also on charges of obstructing a police officer and for minor consuming.

The chase was only two minutes and speeds varied between 25-50 mph, Diaz said.

Diaz said no one was injured in either event. Both vehicles were towed.