Suspected car thief leads police on chase from Carson City to South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) attempted to pull over a vehicle in Carson City Thursday night, but the driver refused to stop and led officers on a chase until the car crashed in the El Dorado County portion of the South Shore, over 35 miles away.

NHP followed the car up Spooner Summit on Highway 50 to Stateline. Per protocol they won't engage in high speed chases so followed him until he approached Stateline. Troopers called ahead to South Lake Tahoe, advising police that the vehicle was headed in their direction.

The car, which turned out to be stolen in Contra Costa County, was spotted as it crossed the state line and officers followed it from Highway 50 onto Pioneer Trail, and then Black Bart Avenue.

The driver of the stolen car then turned onto Genoa Avenue and led officers on a chase on Meadow Crest and Chinquapin Drives. He ended up on the dead-end portion of Chinquapin and drove through the gate to the South Tahoe Public Utility District overflow ponds. The car crashed against rocks and the driver took off on foot.

A search of the neighborhood led officers to Hank Monk Avenue where they spotted the suspect attempting to get into a home and arrested him according to Nick Carlquist of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

James Thomas Cook, 35, was arrested on felony charges of Evading Police Officers With Disregard to Public Safety, Vehicle Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, and misdemeanor charges of Drunk Driving and Obstruction. He is currently being housed in the El Dorado County Jail on $90,500 bail.

Cook is on probation from San Joaquin County where he had previous felony gun, drug and burglary related charges.

No other details are available at this time.