Arbolada site of police pursuit
by Lenny Roberts

An 18-year-old Ojai man was arrested Saturday night following what authorities described as a dangerous pursuit down Ojai Avenue and through the Arbolada that ended when a deputy forced the suspect's 1980 blue Mercedes off the road in the 200 block of Church Road.
Cameren Brand Kahler was taken into custody and charged with brandishing a weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrest and driving on a suspended license, according to the police report.
Also arrested was Kahler's passenger, a 16-year-old juvenile charged with possession of controlled substances - a hydromorphone pill, an opiate alkaloid - and a small amount of marijuana. The juvenile was cited and released to parental custody pending a court appearance.
Sheriff's Sergeant Ken Edling said the incident began when Kahler flagged down a sheriff's 4X4 patrol unit in the post office parking lot at 9:16 p.m., claiming that he had been injured when another man had earlier punched him in the face in front of Bill Baker's on East Ojai Avenue.
After telling the deputy that he intended to drive himself to seek medical attention, Kahler allegedly drove recklessly out of the parking lot onto Signal Street and westbound on Ojai Avenue.
The report states that two police cars then followed Kahler as he drove in a dangerous and hazardous manner before the deputies attempted to pull him over in the area of Rincon Street and El Paseo Road. At that point, Edling said that Kahler pulled out a silver pistol, which deputies later learned was a toy, and brandished it at them before he fled on to Foothill Road and through the Arbolada, speeding past stop signs and narrowly missing trees along the way.
Edling added that after the pursuit had bounced off of a power pole on Del Norte Road and turned on to Church Road, the deputy driving the 4X4 vehicle pushed Kahler's Mercedes off the road and onto the sidewalk, at which time Kahler allegedly rammed the 4X4 in the passenger-side door. As he attempted to back up, another deputy blocked the Mercedes and the pursuit was over.
Kahler was taken to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of his injuries allegedly sustained when battered on Ojai Avenue, and booked into Ventura County Jail. Neither his juvenile passenger nor the pursuing deputies were reportedly injured.
The damage to the 4X4 patrol unit appeared to be minor, Edling said.

© 2002 The Ojai Valley News

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