Crime & Safety

Man Who Led Poway Deputies on Chase Pleads Guilty

John Joseph Canning III faces a maximum of five years and eight months in prison.

The man who led sheriff's deputies on a pursuit through Poway pleaded guilty Wednesday.

John Joseph Canning III, 21, entered his plea to assault on a peace officer and evading police with reckless driving.

He faces a maximum of five years and eight months in prison when he is sentenced April 18 by Judge Theodore Weathers.

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On Feb. 23, a sheriff's deputy responded to a call about a silver Lexus circling the Poway Walmart parking lot in a suspicious manner about 9:20 p.m.

When the deputy approached the Lexus, the driver accelerated rapidly in reverse and struck the passenger side of the deputy's patrol vehicle, according to sheriff's Sgt. Keith Griggs.

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Canning then drove off northbound through the parking lot and onto Community Road with the deputy in pursuit, Griggs said. The chase, which reached speeds of 90 to 95 mph, ended in 4S Ranch about five minutes later when it became too dangerous and deputies eventually lost sight of the Lexus.

About 2:40 a.m., authorities went to a home at on Via Bergamo in Torrey Highlands and arrested Canning, who had taken his parent's Lexus without permission.

Canning had two passengers in the car, a man who got out before the Lexus left the Walmart parking lot and a woman who got out sometime during the chase and called 911.

City News Service contributed to this report.


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