February 13, 2012

Rape suspect leads officers on 100-mile chase

Spike strips halted Bryan Tangas, 23, who evaded police and California Highway Patrol for 100 miles

By Sarah Burge
The Press Enterprise

MURRIETA, Calif. — A man suspected of raping a woman early Friday morning at a home in French Valley led officers on a 100-mile chase from Temecula to Barstow before he was arrested, authorities said.

Bryan Tangas, 23, was arrested on suspicion of forcible rape and felony evading, Riverside County sheriff's officials said.

The rape was reported about 5:15 a.m. at Tangas' home in the 32000 block of Dowling Court near Murrieta, a sheriff's news release said. The woman told deputies that Tangas, who is a friend of hers, had raped her by force at his house, said Sgt. Kevin McDonald.

She managed to escape on foot but Tangas began driving through the neighborhood in his truck looking for her, sheriff's officials said. The woman called 911 for help and hid from Tangas behind bushes until deputies arrived to help her, McDonald said.

Deputies found Tangas driving in the area of Buck and Borel roads, the release said. They tried to pull him over, but he sped away on Rancho California Road toward Temecula, sheriff's officials said. He continued through Temecula to Interstate 15 and headed north.

Deputies turned over the pursuit to California Highway Patrol officers, who followed Tangas on I-15 all the way to Barstow. Officers used spike strips to disable his truck and took Tangas into custody without further incident, sheriff's officials said.