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Update: More Charges Against Suspected Drunken Driver

James Hoffmann, 27, of Las Vegas, was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of felony evading officers and DUI; on Friday, sheriff's deputies said kidnapping and false imprisonment would be added.

Update Sept. 14, 2012:

A Las Vegas man already in jail on suspected DUI and felony evading officers for allegedly leading CHP on a chase through Temecula may face kidnapping charges as well.

James Ryan Hoffmann, 27, was taken into custody Thursday after allegedly leading California Highway Patrol officers on a chase through Temecula.

Investigators determined that in the vehicle were two men to whom he had offered a ride and a woman.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Curt Harris, the men repeatedly asked Hoffmann to stop the vehicle and yield to officers.

Hoffmann on Friday remained behind bars in lieu of $100,000 bail.

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A Las Vegas man who led California Highway Patrol officers on a chase in Temecula was behind bars Thursday, officials said.

James Ryan Hoffmann, 27, was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of  evading officers—a felony—along with DUI, driving without a license and DUI with a .08 or higher level of alcohol, all misdemeanors.

He remained in custody in lieu of $100,000, pending a court appearance set for Monday, jail records showed.

The chase began when California Highway Patrol officers Ron Thatcher and Joe Sandoval spotted a 2003 Jeep Cherokee weaving ahead of them on Ynez Road about 2 a.m. Thursday, a CHP spokesperson said.

The patrolling officers initiated a traffic stop, using the cruiser's emergency lights, according to CHP Officer Nathan Baer.

The driver pulled into the Tower Plaza shopping center—on Ynez, near Rancho California Road—Baer said.

Without warning, however, the suspect sped away, the Jeep jumping curbs and raised islands, Baer said.

The Jeep went back onto Ynez Road, speeding south at nearly 90 mph, until it got to De Portola Road, Baer said.

The Jeep passed Margarita Road and the driver then turned around and rushed into the raised center median, damaging the left front wheel, Baer said.

The driver headed north but the vehicle jumped of the center divider and was disabled.

The officers detained the driver and his three passengers but they were later released and only Hoffmann was arrested without further incident, Baer said.

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BIGTOM September 14, 2012 at 03:25 am
why is the CHP on Ynez road,its not a highway.
M. Lee Davis September 14, 2012 at 01:13 pm
Why does it matter??
Brad September 14, 2012 at 01:40 pm
Glad they were there to catch him before someone got hit.
Brenda September 14, 2012 at 03:40 pm
Tom, it might have something to do with us having contracted Sheriff's for Temecula Police. I know in Menifee who do the same, ie contracted with Sheriff, if an accident occurred so far off the freeway the Chp would respond and take the report. Happened to us one block east of Antelope and I was surprised too, and they never did answer me as to why they responded instead of Menifee Sheriff. Was also ticketed for speeding on the 15 freeway up just past the 60 and 10 freeways by a City Cop, that was strange, and cant remember the name of the City. He said he just happened to be getting on the freeway to go to his patrol area and saw me go flying past him. Well doh, I went flying past him cause he was a City Cop on a bike and didnt think they could or would bother pulling over folks on the freeway.
Disclaimer: this was in my much younger years of speeding, and I no longer drive that way and havent since my first child was born :) Otherwise I don't know. Might be a common area that one or the other respond and patrol 1/2 mile off the freeway or something. Or heck they were having dinner and happened to spot the guy and save some lives and get him off the road right then and there. Whatever works I say.
V.W.D.S. September 16, 2012 at 03:25 pm
There is a hwy patrol substation off Montezuma and Ynez. That why.
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Masterpiece Band at Cellarz93 Restaurant Winehouse
djschristensen3 June 9, 2013 at 09:35 am
Was that the grand finale ? Cellarz93 is closed now. So sad, a wonderful gem in the Valley.
LAKE ELSINORE RESIDENT May 28, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Watch this video, it's directly across the street from a large aggregate mining operation. thinkRead More crystalline silica. Aggregate trucks drive in front of this club constantly it's a haul road. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhckrqXX-L4
Brenda June 2, 2013 at 02:58 am
All comes down to getting the "GOLD" Balanced right in the big City Hall right? We areRead More broke we are broke! We have how many more million dollar residents, ranches, farms who pay taxes, how many more business's, triple, quadruple, on and on that pay taxes, and some very large business's at that for YEARS. Yet Murietta and Menifee with just the few they have can manage to not only put in side walks, AND ALSO ACTULLY Listen their residents, instead of call them names like Paul has been, concerns and respond to them. Hell we are just now getting some attention to our driving issues with running red lights, speeding, not stopping at stop signs, driving drunk, high, or wreeklessly causing deaths and serious injuries to walkers, bike riders, skate board, scooter riders, wheelchairs, motor bike riders, and other cars. But how many lives were lost or severly disabled until we just now the last 2 weeks have been giving traffic details for different areas, cell phone details, etc. Lucky to get some sidewalks finished in 10 years if someone doesnt figure out where our "Gold" is we all pay in. And stop calling names people at the City meetings to Paul or anyone else trying to get our City to do what its there for. By the time someone in your own family is killed they will be laughing at you for standing up asking for sidewalks right? Just like on the "Patch" comment areas, always calling names instead of sticking with your fellow Temeculites and getting us something DONE! Before we loose more lives