Teen arrested in carjacking case
By: JOHN HALL - Staff Writer | ∞
TEMECULA -- A Temecula teen was arrested early Monday in connection with a high-speed chase, carjacking and an officer-involved shooting on Interstate 215 the night before.
Joshua Alan Richie, 19, was found at the Comfort Inn on Jefferson Avenue in Temecula and arrested about 7 a.m., said Investigator Jerry Franchville, spokesman for the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
Richie was arrested and booked at Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of kidnapping, kidnapping for robbery, carjacking, receiving stolen property and assault with a deadly weapon, according to jail records. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail, records state.
Also found at the hotel was the red Ford Focus that authorities say Richie carjacked as he attempted to elude pursuing deputies on Sunday night, Franchville said.
Police found personal items belonging to the carjack victim in Richie's possession, the investigator said.
Richie is suspected of being the driver of a stolen 2002 Mercedes Benz that sheriff's deputies started chasing about 6:45 p.m. Sunday from Fourth Street and Wilkerson Avenue in Perris.
Richie had just dropped off his girlfriend in that area as deputies went to check on the reported stolen Mercedes, Franchville said.
"She was detained (after the pursuit started) and said she didn't know the car was stolen," Franchville said.
Ultimately, authorities were able to gather enough information to possibly identify the driver of the Mercedes and that led them to Richie's location Monday morning, he added.
During Sunday night's chase, the Mercedes -- which had been fleeing at speeds reaching about 100 mph -- was involved in a crash on southbound I-215 south of Newport Road in Menifee.
Two other cars, a Chevrolet Cobalt and a Mitsubishi Lancer, were damaged during the 7:15 p.m. crash but no one was injured, California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Thatcher said Monday.
Two women in a passing Ford Focus stopped to see if anyone needed any help, but then became victims of the fleeing suspect.
Richie is accused of carjacking for reportedly forcing the woman driving the Ford from her car, then speeding off, authorities said. The driver was able to get out of the car, but an 18-year-old woman in the passenger seat was unable to escape before Richie drove away with the Ford, Franchville said.
At the next offramp, Scott Road, the Focus exited the freeway and, as it slowed, the woman jumped from the car. A deputy who was chasing the Ford stopped to check on the woman, who had minor scapes and bruises.
Richie reportedly made a U-turn on Scott Road and drove right toward the deputy who then fired at the car, Franchville said. The deputy was not injured and authorities are not saying how many shots he fired.
The Ford was hit by gunfire, Franchville said, but Richie did not have any gunshot wounds. Richie was taken to a local hospital after his arrest to be checked because of the crash on the freeway.
Doctors gave the OK for him to be booked and he was taken to Southwest Detention Center in French Valley.
After the deputy fired at the car Sunday night, the Ford got back onto southbound I-215 and was chased into Murrieta.
At Los Alamos Road, a sheriff's deputy lost control of his patrol car and crashed into a concrete barrier at the offramp, Thatcher said.
The Ford Focus exited the freeway at Murrieta Hot Springs Road after which pursuing deputies lost track of the car, authorities said.
The car ultimately made it into Temecula where, according to one woman, it nearly smashed into her car.
Grace Helton, 59, was headed out to pick up a dinner order when her close call happened in the area of La Serena Way and Walcott Lane.
"If I had been going through there three to five seconds later, it would have crashed into me," Helton said.
"This little red car just darted right in front of me," she said.
Helton described seeing the car airborne, then on two wheels as it made a turn at high speed.
"I thought it was just kids monkeying around at first," she said.
Helton says she believes her granddaughter saved her life.
"Just before I left, I decided to walk back and give my granddaughter a kiss in the Jacuzzi," Helton said.
"If I had not done that ...," she said, her voice trailing off.
-- Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.
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Oh My Gosh wrote on Mar 6, 2007 5:20 AM:Please tell me the 12 foot barrier walls in Temecula may have NOT allowed a felony suspect to enter the protected city. This just can't be true! A criminal in Temecula, what are we to do???? I thought these people only lived in Perris or Lake Elsinore but not here in Temecula....
Concerned-1 wrote on Mar 6, 2007 8:18 AM:It scares me that our youth do things like this. I guess it's part of this whole hip-hop, gang, tattoo, mentality. When I was young we rebelled, but never would we do something like this. It is the act of low lives!
Travis T. wrote on Mar 6, 2007 1:41 PM:Dear Editor, Every day that I read the news paper it becomes more and more apparent to me that we live in a world that thrives off of evil. I noticed that a majority of the articles you, "The Californian" put out, are based on the bad things occuring everyday. Now, I do understand that it is your job to inform us, "The People" of the current events going on around us. I wanted to get a change of pace though and send a letter in sharing some good things about an individual who is in a hard situation right now. This letter is to show the love and support that is here for Josh Richie and his family. He is a good kid who I have been lucky enough to know since I was about 5 years old. He has been a leader and a role model for me. Hes taught me things I will never forget and I love him for that. He has changed alot of peoples lives and is a well respected boy who was just confused and in a bad place. I will always be there for you josh. My prayers go out to you josh and your family. I am sure everything will work out. -Travis
Get Real. wrote on Mar 6, 2007 2:06 PM:This has nothing to do with hip-hop, gangs, or tattoos. It's just about a good guy that made bad choices in life. Richie's a good guy, i graduated from TV last year with him, but he has made some wrong choices in life and he will have to pay for that, but let's not be so narrow minded and stereotypical and believe that people like that only exist in places where ethnic minorities are not the minority.
Josh D wrote on Mar 6, 2007 2:42 PM:Josh Richie was not only a classmate, and a coworker of mine, he was a friend, who had my back if i was in trouble. i can honestly say that he is a really god guy and what happened to him had nothing to do with his personality, rather than the situations he was drawn into. i have full support for Richie just as he would have for me.
Josh D. wrote on Mar 6, 2007 3:03 PM:Josh Richie was not only a classmate, and a coworker of mine, he was a friend, who had my back if i was in trouble. i can honestly say that he is a really god guy and what happened to him had nothing to do with his personality, rather than the situations he was drawn into. i have full support for Richie just as he would have for me.
to concerned wrote on Mar 6, 2007 3:09 PM:Are you crazy. I think it has to do with country music, cowboy boots and Rodeos. He was not in a Gang or did not have tattoos. What are you talking about?
Concerned-1 wrote on Mar 6, 2007 4:39 PM:So much for making my point. And thanks NCT for the edit. Peace out ya all.
A friend wrote on Mar 6, 2007 4:39 PM: Josh richie is a good guy i knew him in school and as josh d wrote is he was just in a bad situation, gang violnece was not a part of it and neither was hip hop tatoo mentality. come on people those things don't really affect kids these days..
Brittany wrote on Mar 6, 2007 5:43 PM:Joshua Richie is an inspiration to many... he's is not a bad kid... To tell you the truth he is very smart and loved by many. Unfortunately he just got caught up in the wrong crowd and made some very bad decisions. I will be there for Josh the whole way through and support him one hundred percent. My thoughts and prayers go out to you Josh and your family... we will get through this... you are so strong! I love you and always will!!!
charlotte wrote on Mar 6, 2007 8:46 PM:how good can he be if he did the things he did???????
Crazy KID wrote on Mar 6, 2007 10:04 PM:Josh has put himself in a really bad situation!!! He only has himself to blame! THANK GOD he didn't hurt anyone else! Hopefully he will get the proper HELP he needs!
Melrose Hooligan wrote on Mar 7, 2007 2:09 AM:I dont understand why people are so quick to judge others with tattoos. It is a form of expression and nothing else this kid just made some bad decisions and thats it. It had nothing to do with what kind of music he listens to or if he has tattoos.
someone wrote on Mar 7, 2007 5:04 PM:whoever is without fault, let them cast the first stone
I MISS JOSH RICHIE!!!!!!! wrote on Mar 7, 2007 11:05 PM: HERES To those of you who think that you know josh by reading a news paper article. By age 16 josh owned maneged and operated his own buissness, he made more money at that time than any of our freinds combined, he was very succesful and very bright, as well as cocky....hahha. but josh is well known for the good things he has done in our community, as well as with our freinds. if anyone of us had a problem with our girlfreinds or problem at home josh was there to talk to. no matter the circumstances. Just as travis has been privalged enough to know him i have also known josh since 6 years old. ever since then we had never been into a fight argument or scuffle in anyway, This alone can tell you how easy goin he is at only 19. he was very openminded to listene to what you had to say. josh has taught me alot and was always the role modle for me me as well as our freinds. its very unfourtunate to this this happen to my freind, my brother, my blood. i dont support the actions that took place on saturday, but i will always support josh come hell or high water. its to bad you ever got introduced into those kinds of people and i wish i would have tried harder to get you back away from them, when you moved out....just know that we all love you, and will always do anything for you, but you already knew that.....
Travis wrote on Mar 8, 2007 11:41 AM:I am writing this in response to the writer "concerned 1"... I am sorry to say but it sounds like you are living in the past when you say "When I was young we rebelled, but never would we do something like this. It is the act of low lives!" I mean come on, you don't know Josh and you dont uderstand the situation, some would call that IGNORANCE! I would also like to comment on the way you think its alright to call him "tweeker". I think the situation is bad enough as it is and you dont need to add insult to injury by getting childish and calling names. I take offense to this as one of joshes good friends and i know he would too. I think you owe josh and his family who has probably read this an appology.
To Travis and friends of Josh wrote on Mar 8, 2007 4:20 PM:Do you really think that someone who makes a comment of opinion on the internet owe's Josh an apology??? What does Josh owe to all of the victims' lives he has altered forever??? Do you really think Josh is the victim here? He made the choices . . . He will have to pay the PRICE. The vicitms involved did not have the choice to have their lives permanently altered. Think before you write!!! You can choose to be friends with whoever you want, but don't tell the victims who is a good person in this terrible situation.
Unbelievable Support for Who??? wrote on Mar 8, 2007 4:42 PM:It is sad to see how ignorant our youth can be in supporting the side of a criminal. Who made the choices? Who are the victims? And who was the one that almost took the lives of innocent families and law enforcement authorities! Maybe at one time your friend was some great guy, but he has altered the lives of many . . . with complete and tentional disregard for people's lives. That is not my definition of a friend, good person, or ROLE MODEL. You do not have to know the individual to evaluate the facts and tell what kind of person he is NOW!!!
Support For Who!! wrote on Mar 8, 2007 4:43 PM:It is sad to see how ignorant our youth can be in supporting the side of a criminal. Who made the choices? Who are the victims? And who was the one that almost took the lives of innocent families and law enforcement authorities! Maybe at one time your friend was some great guy, but he has altered the lives of many . . . with complete and tentional disregard for people's lives. That is not my definition of a friend, good person, or ROLE MODEL. You do not have to know the individual to evaluate the facts and tell what kind of person he is NOW!!!
Are You Kidding? wrote on Mar 8, 2007 6:02 PM:I understand loyalty and support of a friend in need. I can believe that at one time he may have been a good person. The choices he made that day were not ones that a role model, a good kid, or a "leader" would make. Please do not try to dismiss or lessen the horrible things he did that day to innocent people. He is very fortunate that nobody was seriously hurt or killed because of his thoughtless and irresponsible actions and behavior.
Travis wrote on Mar 8, 2007 8:24 PM:I still believe it was unnecassary for name calling and that is what i think an appology is necassary for. I am not saying josh wasnt in the wrong in doing what he did, but i am saying that years in jail in exchange for a lack of judgement for a few minutes seems unreasonable,
What?!?! wrote on Mar 9, 2007 6:55 AM:"years in jail in exchange for a lack of judgement for a few minutes seems unreasonable" That is an insane line of thought! Charles Manson and his "family" would be free today by your thinking! This guy is lucky no one was seriously hurt or killed!
Gary in Winchester wrote on Mar 9, 2007 12:01 PM:These kids don't know who Charles Manson is........
disbelief wrote on Mar 9, 2007 5:27 PM:Careful, these people's self-esteem could be in jeopardy! 'Responsibility for one's actions' is a bygone concept I'm afraid.
It wasn't his fault wrote on Mar 12, 2007 7:59 PM:It wasn't his fault... its always someone else's responsibility. Give me a break. He made choices. He committed a felony - he made that choice all by his big self.
you have no idea wrote on Mar 15, 2007 6:55 PM:First of all, half the information in this article (and others) isn't even correct. Everyone sits there and judges like they know the whole story, but read three or four papers and they all say something different. Second, anyone who has ever had an actual conversation with Josh can tell you he is the sweetest, most caring person you'll ever meet. Nobody is saying it wasn't his fault. Nobody is trying to say he shouldn't pay the price for what he did. You just shouldn't be so quick to judge (and stereotype, for that matter), when you honestly have no idea what kind of person he is.
errisponcybil wrote on Mar 19, 2007 12:12 AM:It couldn't be his fault, heavens no! Let's blame the methamphetamine that he was using. Or let's blame the community thate would dare hold this young man accountable for his actions. How many lives has he influenced in the community with his drug dealing anyway? Where were his "friends" who support him now when he started down the path that led him to this point. I don't believe that this just happened overnight. I hope that he gets his life squred away, but a couple of mea culpas won't erase what he has done so quickly.
OMG wrote on Mar 20, 2007 5:01 PM:I read these comments by teens and some parents,I am sure. It baffels me, I mean what has it come to that teens these days take no responsibility for thier actions and parents blame someone or something else for their kids doing these things. Where is our generation doing to our future? Parents need to start paying more attention to their kids and stop being their "buddies". And kids come on, think you are standing up for kids who have broken the law.Would you stand up for joe blow if he carjacked YOUR car?
to errisponcybil wrote on Jun 26, 2007 7:10 PM:Just because he made bad decisions and happened to lead to this, doesn't give you the right to criticize him like this. Your no better than him at all, i guarantee it. And you have no room to sit there and talk about his drug dealing because you obviously don't know him, he did have friends who tried to help him by the way so quit your ignorant talking!!
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