Javier Zepeda SolisWATSONVILLE, Calif. - The Santa Cruz County Gang Task Force arrested 30-year-old Javier Zepeda Solis Thursday afternoon after first spotting him outside of the Day's Inn hotel on Beach Street, in Watsonville.
Solis was wanted for violating terms of his probation. Officers tried to stop and contact Solis, who was driving a black BMW... but sped away. Officers pursued Solis through Watsonville city streets, at times reaching speeds in excess of 80 MPH.
Ultimately Solis pulled into a trailer park in the 1900 Block of Freedom Boulevard where he drove the car into a fence and took off running. A female and male passenger also fled on foot. Officers quickly caught the female passenger in a nearby trailer. She was determined not to have any criminal liability and released.
The male passenger eluded officers and was not found.
Officers continued their chase of Solis on foot into the apartment complex at the end of Stewart Avenue. Officers, now joined by Santa Cruz County sheriff's deputies, were able to track him to an apartment, to which he was not related. Officers forced entry into the apartment to find a sleeping teenaged girl who was unaware that anyone had entered her home. Upon searching the house GTF officers found Solis hiding in a locked bedroom and arrested him.
Officers found items of clothing that Solis had been wearing and discarded in various areas of the house.
Officers also found a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, bullets, and ammunition magazine, all of which appeared to have been hastily hidden. The pistol was reported stolen out of Salinas on September 24th, 2012.
GTF officers booked Solis into county jail for various charges including those listed.
