From the Eureka Police Department:

On 9/29/13, at about 8:04 AM, a Eureka Police Department officer on patrol observed a silver 1999 Toyota Corolla driving erratically southbound on the 1600 block of ‘B’ Street, Eureka. The officer’s attention was drawn to the vehicle after it nearly struck a curb and continued traveling southbound on ‘B’ Street while swerving in its lane.

Suspecting the driver might be DUI, the officer attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop on the Toyota at West Sonoma and Pine Streets. The driver ran the stop sign at the intersection and continued driving southbound on Pine Street at approximately 40 MPH. The driver then ran a second stop sign at Pine and West Hawthorne Streets. With the officer now in pursuit, the driver continued to the 2300 block of Summer Street where he abandoned his vehicle and fled westbound on foot through a nearby apartment complex.

The officer recognized the Toyota’s driver as Markis Caprice Dewayne Shirley, age 21, of Eureka. Responding officers searched the vicinity for Shirley but were unable to locate him. A backpack containing documents in Shirley’s name was located nearby along his flight path. A local records check revealed Shirley had a felony warrant out for his arrest related to a drug possession charge.

While officers were still looking for Shirley, the owner of the Toyota Corolla called 9-1-1 to report his vehicle had been stolen sometime overnight from the 100 block of Harris Street. The keys had been left in the vehicle and the suspect was not known to the victim. The undamaged Toyota was subsequently reunited with its owner.

The Eureka Police Department will be seeking the issuance of a new warrant for Shirley for the following offenses: possession of a stolen vehicle, evading a peace officer, and driving with a suspended license.

Shirley is described as a black male adult, age 21 years, 6’ 1” tall, approximately 150 pounds, with a slender build, brown eyes, and black hair. He is further described as having a “large, afro-style hairdo.”

Anyone with information concerning Shirley’s present whereabouts is asked to call the Eureka Police Department at (707) 441-4044.