Monday, August 19, 2024
(Photos courtesy of VCSO)
Updated– In December of last year, a Ventura County Sheriff’s canine unit was struck by a wrong-way driver under the influence of alcohol on the Pacific Coast Highway south of Mugu Rock, causing the sheriff’s patrol unit to tumble across the roadway onto the rocks below.
The deputy and his K-9 partner were injured in the accident and it is a miracle that things were not worse.
The suspected wrong-way driver, 25-year-old Gerardo Escalante of Santa Paula, who was already on probation for drunk driving, was arrested for personal injury by drunk driving.
He pleaded not guilty to this and other charges and denied several specific allegations.
Escalante was eventually released from prison on bail, but in March of this year he failed to appear in court and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
So what happened to Escalante?
Did he flee the country?
Obviously not.
KVTA News was informed by Ventura County authorities that Escalante was deported.
Apparently, due to confusion and communication problems between the authorities, he was deported before he could be prosecuted.
Will Escalante ever face criminal charges in connection with the incidents?
This is unknown.
