A man has begun serving a 45-year prison sentence after pleading no contest to shooting at California Highway Patrol officers during a high speed pursuit through Rowland Heights, authorities said.
Isaac Arriaga, 28, of Moreno Valley received the sentence Tuesday after pleading no contest to three counts of assault on a peace officer with a semi-automatic firearm, Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Jane Robison said.
Additional charges including multiple counts of attempted murder and assault were dropped, she added.
No one was injured in the shooting, which took place Aug. 4 as Arriaga was fleeing CHP officers on the westbound Pomona (60) Freeway in Rowland Heights, CHP officials said at the time.
The chase began in San Bernardino County, where officials tried to pull him over while he was driving a 2004 Land Rover Discovery that was being sought in connection with a carjacking, officials said. The chase reached speeds in excess of 100 mph.
As the chase passed through Rowland Heights on the 60 Freeway, Arriaga opened fire on pursuing CHP officers, striking two patrol cars, according to the CHP. One of the bullets pierced the gas tank of one of the patrol cars.
Arriaga’s SUV became disabled and came to a stop a short time later just east of Hacienda Boulevard in Hacienda Heights, officials said. He was arrested following a brief stand-off.