Press Contact: Sergeant Joseph Estrada, jestrada@ontariopolice.org
Phone Number: (909) 408-1836
Date: February 3, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Occurrence Date: February 2, 2024
INCIDENT: Vehicle Pursuit Suspect Arrested
Ontario, CA – Ontario Police arrested Joshua Mikulay of Norwalk after leading officers on a dangerous pursuit before crashing into the San Gabriel Riverbed.
On February 2, 2024, at 4:13 P.M. Ontario Police dispatch received the notification of a stolen vehicle in the area of Mission Blvd/ Euclid Ave. The vehicle was a Toyota pickup truck which had been reported stolen earlier in the day, in the city of Tustin. Officers located the vehicle at AMPM (1054 W. Mission Blvd) where suspect Mikulay was pumping gas. An officer attempted to block in the vehicle to prevent Mikulay from fleeing. The officer gave Mikulay commands, which he ignored while he got into the driver’s seat of the vehicle. Mikulay revved his engine heading into the direction of the officer and his unit. The officer was able to safely back away and avoid being hit. Mikulay then struck a bollard and two other vehicles before making it onto Mission Blvd.
Mikulay lead officers on a 45-mile pursuit through surface streets, various freeways and two counties. During the pursuit Mikulay reached speeds of 95 miles per hour. Mikulay had complete disregard for public safety as he intentionally ran stop signs, red lights and drove into opposing lanes of traffic. Ontario Air Unit was able to keep observations on Mikulay as officers were not able to keep up due to his erratic driving maneuvers. Mikulay drove down an embankment underneath the 105 freeway and Hoxie Ave into the San Gabriel Riverbed before fleeing on foot. Mikulay hid from officers in a nearby homeless encampment where he had been residing.
Mikulay was arrested by Ontario Police Officers without incident. He was later booked into West Valley Detention Center on numerous felonies to include assault on a peace officer and felony evading while driving into opposing traffic.
At the time of Mikulay’ s arrest he was on Postrelease Community Supervision (PRCS) out of Los Angeles County for robbery. Mikulay has an extensive criminal history and by his actions during this incident also a complete disregard for the safety of our community. It is our commitment to work with our partners at the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office to help ensure that individuals who recklessly put our communities in danger are prosecuted to the fullest extent the law allows.
Investigators are asking anyone who may have witnessed or been a victim of Mikulay during this incident to contact the Ontario Police Department at 909-986-6711. Information may also be reported anonymously by calling WE-TIP at 78-CRIME or online at www.wetip.com.
