A National City man who led police officers on an hour-long chase on freeways in 2013 has been sentenced to one year in a work furlough program.
Benjamin Junior Gonzalez, 32, of San Diego, pleaded guilty to evading police officers with reckless driving and driving while under the influence of methamphetamine on July 19, 2013.
The chase started around 10:15 p.m. when a San Diego Police officer tried to pull Gonzalez over for speeding on southbound Interstate 5 near Palomar Avenue in Chula Vista. Gonzalez continued driving and went on numerous freeways up to Del Mar.
Gonzalez then drove down to National City and crashed his pickup on the Plaza Boulevard exit. He got out and ran and hid in a storm drain. A police dog found him and he was arrested.
Gonzalez surrendered to the work furlough facility shortly before Christmas and will stay there at nights and on weekends, but will be free to report to work during the day.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Laura Halgren suspended a two-year and eight- month prison term and placed him on five years probation. He was fined $849 and received credit for nine days spent in jail.
Charges of transportation and possession of methamphetamine for sale and resisting arrest were dismissed.
