Prison Sentence in High-Speed Chase that Injured Police Officer
Today in Department 22 of the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center, the court sentenced Lacey Gonzalez, age 38, of Visalia, to 5 years in prison for a 2022 high-speed chase in Tulare that injured a police officer.
On March 5, 2022, Tulare Police Department officers observed a stolen Ford Flex vehicle being driven by Gonzalez. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but Gonzalez failed to yield and continued to drive at high rates of speed while violating numerous traffic laws. The chase resulted in a major collision with a patrol vehicle, causing the officer to lose consciousness and sustain major injuries. Gonzalez was taken into custody and admitted to stealing the vehicle and fleeing to avoid arrest. Gonzalez also revealed to using methamphetamine prior to driving.
Gonzalez pleaded no contest to felony fleeing a pursing officer while driving recklessly, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, and driving or taking a vehicle without consent on January 13, 2025. The charges were enhanced with special allegations that the crime constituted a serious felony, caused great bodily injury, and that the defendant possessed a prior auto theft conviction.
Media inquiries can be directed to the Office of the District Attorney, County of Tulare Communications Director Stuart Anderson (559) 636-5494