UPDATE, 2:13 p.m.: Eureka Police Department press release:
On 01/23/15 at about 12:41 p.m., an officer with the Eureka Police Department spotted a parked Chevrolet Camaro with a suspicious male inside near West Harris and California Streets. The officer approached the vehicle and recognized the driver, Julian Shaffer (36) of Eureka, as a wanted parolee.
Shaffer immediately started his vehicle and ignored the officer’s commands to stop. Shaffer fled in his vehicle east on West Harris. The officer ended the pursuit for public safety reasons when Shafer reached speeds of approximately 60 MPH and ran a red light on Harris near Henderson Center.
Shaffer continued through Henderson Center and collided with a parked pickup truck on Grotto near F Street. Shaffer abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Numerous citizens assisted in giving directions to officers on Shaffer’s whereabouts.
Shaffer was ultimately detained by a citizen in the US Bank parking lot and quickly taken into custody by officers. Shaffer was transported to the Humboldt County Jail and was booked for felony reckless evading, parole hold, and hit and run.
The Eureka Police Department would like to thank all of the citizens that assisted in the apprehension of Shaffer.
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Original Post: Eureka Police just captured a driver fleeing from a traffic stop in a movie worthy chase scene. Eureka Police Department spokesperson Brittany Powell said that an officer attempted to stop a vehicle near West Henderson and California.
The driver, in what scanner traffic called a turquoise Camaro, fled towards Henderson Center. There, the driver collided with a park car near the corner of F Street and Grotto. The driver fled on foot and was captured with the help of citizens. The citizens assisted the officer by directing him to where the man was located.