Grass Valley Police and Sheriff’s Deputies were both in pursuit of a suspect Sunday afternoon after learning through Lojack that the Pickup he was driving had been stolen out of the Lake Englebright area.

Click to listen to GVPD Lieutenant Gammelgard

Grass Valley Police Lt. Alex Gammelgard says the suspect, later identified as 42 year old Jason Ortiz of Penn Valley sped off down Alta Street onto Ridge Rd. There happened to be two Sheriff’s units in the area and Nevada County Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Pettit says they began a pursuit that went onto Squirrel Creek Rd.

click to listen to NCSO Captain Pettit

Lt. Gammelgard says one of Grass Valley’s unmarked detective units then located the stolen vehicle off of Oak and Squirrel Creek Road.

click to listen to GVPD Lieutenant Gammelgard

Ortiz then made a U turn and struck the detective vehicle head on.

click to listen to GVPD Lieutenant Gammelgard

Captain Pettit says Jason Ortiz was booked into county jail on two counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, reckless evasion of a peace officer, vehicle theft, possessing drug paraphernalia,and violating post-release community supervision. Pettit says Ortiz has had numerous run in’s with the sheriff’s department in the past.

click to listen to NCSO Captain Pettit

Ortiz is being held without bail.

Jason Ortiz-Booking Photo