American Canyon traffic stop leads to ‘dangerous’ police pursuit, arrest

(KRON) — A routine traffic stop Tuesday in American Canyon for a broken brake light and speeding took “a dangerous turn” after the driver fled at a high rate of speed, according to authorities.

Around noon, the American Canyon Police Department stopped a gray Mercedes on Highway 29 near South Kelly Road. An officer contacted the driver, identified as Ulises Guzman, 22, of Vallejo, before authorities said Guzman suddenly sped off northbound.

A high-speed police pursuit was initiated before the Mercedes pulled over again near the Highway 221 interchange, ACPD said. Officers detained Guzman and his female passenger.

“During the course of the pursuit, officers suspected the driver may have discarded an item from the vehicle,” police said. “A subsequent search of the route led to the discovery of a loaded Glock 19 Gen5 9mm semi-auto pistol lying in the roadway.”

Authorities said Guzman threw the pistol from his vehicle during the police chase.

Guzman was arrested and booked into the Napa County Jail for evading an officer with willful disregard of the public, illegal possession of a firearm within a vehicle, carrying an unregistered firearm and destruction of evidence.

The passenger was released from the scene.