A Chula Vista man who doused himself with gasoline while fleeing from sheriff’s deputies who wanted to talk to him about a burglary pleaded guilty Jan. 23 to auto theft of the car he was driving.
Deputy District Attorney Ronald Mendes said Oscar Edwardo Torres, 32, could receive four years in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 25 before El Cajon Superior Court Judge Charles Ervin. He could also get probation.
Sheriff’s deputies in Ramona received a call Jan. 14 about a suspicious person who entered several residences and had his face and arms painted black. He took a Ford F-150 truck and drove off and was followed by deputies on state Route 78.
Deputies say Torres began tossing stuff out the window and doused himself with gasoline while driving. He lit a towel on fire and threw it on the freeway. Deputies used a spike strip and he pulled over.
Torres remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility on $100,000 bail.
