julio cesar perez mugshot.jpeg

On Sunday, Jan. 11, a suspect was arrested by Hollister Police after a vehicle pursuit and short foot chase in Hollister. 

At about 8 p.m., Officer Luis Toribio was working patrol when he noticed a suspicious vehicle near the intersection of Sunnyslope Road and Valley View Road. When Toribio turned his vehicle around to investigate, the driver of the suspect vehicle turned off the headlights and began driving through stop signs, according to police.

Officer Toribio attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver refused and led the officer on a vehicle pursuit that continued westbound on Union Road and then northbound on San Benito Street. The suspect driver arrived at the intersection with Nash Road where he failed to negotiate a turn onto westbound Nash Road and his vehicle collided with a vehicle that was stopped at the intersection. 

The suspect then continued driving his vehicle on Nash Road until he turned on Suiter Street and collided with a fence at a home on the 500 block of Nash Road. The driver, later identified as Julio Cesar Perez, 23, of Hollister, ran from the vehicle but was captured by Toribio about 100 yards away. 

Perez is on state parole and was wearing an ankle monitor. He was transported to the San Benito County Jail, where he was booked for evading in a vehicle, parole violation, bringing illicit substances into jail, resisting arrest and driving without a license. He will also be facing charges of leaving the scene of two vehicle collisions. 

Anyone having information on this case or the other pending investigations is asked to call the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-87-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.