By Sara Beth Williams–
A man with outstanding warrants was arrested in Citrus Heights Friday afternoon, after a slow-speed pursuit and prolonged standoff that ended with officers deploying a pepper-ball, according to the Citrus Heights Police Department.
The incident began Friday afternoon, June 19, when officers made contact with a suspicious vehicle “camping” in the Applebee’s restaurant parking lot. According to police, drug paraphernalia was visible inside the vehicle, and officers learned the driver had outstanding warrants.
When officers attempted to detain the driver, identified as Jeremy Long, he drove away, leading police on what was described as a slow-speed pursuit that eventually circled back very near the original location.
Police said the driver refused repeated commands to surrender. During the standoff, officers deployed a drone to communicate with him and encourage him to exit the vehicle peacefully. At one point, Long threw his keys from the vehicle but otherwise remained noncompliant,, police said.
After efforts to gain compliance were unsuccessful, officers used a pepper-ball launcher. Police said the vehicle’s window was open, allowing officers to deploy pepper-ball rounds into the vehicle without using a higher level of force.
Long eventually exited the vehicle but continued to resist officers’ commands, police said. He was ultimately taken into custody.
Authorities said the incident may have involved drugs or mental health issues.
Long was booked on charges of possession of narcotics, weapons, resisting officers, evading police, obstructing a peace officer, and violating the terms of his probation. Sacramento County main jail records show Long is still in custody.
