A man who allegedly threatened to kill a woman in Woodland this afternoon led police on a high-speed chase that ended with a collision and his eventual capture in a Natomas neighborhood.
Woodland officers were dispatched about 1:11 p.m. to the Del Valle Super Mercado at 500 Kentucky Ave. in Woodland after a woman called police and said that Larry Ventimiglia, 25, of Davis had just threatened to shoot and kill her at that location. When officers arrived, the victim said that Ventimiglia had left in a white Saturn.
While police were investigating the incident, another Woodland officer spotted Ventimiglia driving in the area of North and Fourth streets. The officer tried to catch up to Ventimiglia, who began speeding eastbound on North Street across East Street. Several other Woodland officers joined in the pursuit, which continued through residential streets and onto eastbound Beamer Street, where speeds reached more than 90 mph in the industrial area, according to a Police Department news release.
The chase headed south on County Road 102 and onto southbound I-5, where speeds topped 100 mph, police said.
The vehicle pursuit ended when Ventimiglia's vehicle collided with another vehicle and spun out on southbound I-5 near Arena Boulevard. Officials said Ventimiglia ran from the vehicle, leaving his passengers, a 25-year-old woman and 2-year-old child, in the car.
Police said Ventimiglia ran westbound across southbound I-5 and entered a residential neighborhood in Natomas, where he tried to evade officers.
At the end of the vehicle pursuit, a Woodland officer's vehicle skidded off the roadway and into a ditch, but the officer was not injured and was able to chase the suspect on foot.
A perimeter was established with the assistance of Yolo County and Sacramento County sheriff's deputies, the California Highway Patrol and Sacramento police.
About 2:05 p.m., Ventimiglia was found hiding near a residence in he 3400 block of Beretania Way and was taken into custody without incident.
Police said Ventimiglia's passengers were not injured during the pursuit or collision. The woman reportedly told officers that she was an acquaintance of Ventimiglia and an unwilling participant in the pursuit.
Ventimiglia was booked into Yolo County Jail on suspicion of kidnapping, terrorist threats, willfully placing a child in a situation that endangered the the youngster's health, evading a police officer with wanton disregard for the safety of others, and violation of probation.
Officials said Ventimiglia is on post release community supervision and will be held without bail.
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