VEHICLE PURSUIT TM

A 46-YEAR-OLD MAN LED POLICE ON A VEHICLE PURSUIT AFTER PUNCHING A PARKING ATTENDANT AND THROWING A LAW BOOK AT A SANTA CRUZ COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY. THE INCIDENT BEGAN THIS MORNING, WHEN PHILLIP KRIEGE REPORTEDLY BEGAN SCREAMING AT A PARKING ATTENDANT OUTSIDE THE SANTA CRUZ COUNTY COURTHOUSE. KRIEGE BEGAN THROWING DEBRIS AT PARKING ATTENDANT LEE FELLOWS, THEN PUNCHED FELLOWS IN THE SHOULDER. FELLOWS CALLED FOR HELP, AND COURT SECURITY OFFICERS AND SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES FOUND KRIEGE HAD LOCKED HIMSELF IN HIS TRUCK. KREIGE REPORTEDLY RESISITED EFFORTS TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE, AND TOSSED A HEAVY LEGAL TOME AT A DEPUTY, STRIKING HIM IN THE CHEST. KRIEGE THEN DROVE OFF, WITH MEMBERS OF THE SANTA CRUZ POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL IN PURSUIT. KRIEGE WAS STOPPED BY A SPIKE STRIPE NEAR THE OCEAN AND WATER STREET INTERSECTION. SHERIFF'S SGT. PAUL TASHIRO TOLD KSCO KRIEGE WAS APPARENTLY RETURNING TO THE COURT HOUSE TO KEEP A COURT DATE. COURT RECORDS SHOW KRIEGE WAS DUE IN SUPERIOR COURT THIS MORNING ON MULTIPLE TRAFFIC CHARGES. KRIEGE NOW FACES CHARGES OF ASSAULT AND BATTERY, ASSAULTING A PEACE OFFICER, RESISTING ARREST AND EVADING LAW OFFICIALS.