A man on probation was arrested this afternoon after leading Placerville police on a high-speed chase with a child in his vehicle.
Placerville officers went to the Safeway parking lot about 12:30 p.m. to conduct a probation search of Paul Deocampo, 27, who had been seen in the area, according to a Police Department news release. When officers approached his parked vehicle, Deocampo refused to obey their commands and started to reach into his vehicle for an unknown object, police said. Deocampo then started his vehicle, and one of the officers reached in through the driver's side door try to keep him from driving away.
Police said Deocampo began to drive off, dragging the officer about 10 feet. The officer was able to break free, and Deocampo sped out of the parking lot.
Patrol officers pursued Deocampo as he drove across Highway 50 to Motherlode Drive at a high speed, ignoring traffic lights, and the patrol vehicles' lights and sirens, police said.
Deocampo led officers westbound on Motherlode Drive, traveling 100 mph, weaving in and out of both lanes and through traffic, according to the news release. He drove to Shingle Springs and entered eastbound Highway 50 at Ponderosa Road. He continued eastbound, maintaining speeds of more than 100 mph, before exiting at Red Hawk Parkway and driving into the parking garage at the Red Hawk Casino.
Police said Deocampo was taken into custody without further incident. His daughter, who police said was younger than 2 years old, was in a child car seat in the back seat of the vehicle. The child seat had tipped sideways during the pursuit but the girl was uninjured.
Deocampo was booked into El Dorado County Jail on suspicion violation of probation, assault on an officer, felony evasion and child endangerment.
Police said the officer who suffered minor injuries when he was dragged was checked out at Marshall Hospital and released with minor injuries.
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