Merced police capture ‘Most Wanted’ fugitive after car chase

A high-speed chase ended Monday in Merced with one of the county’s most-wanted fugitives behind bars, the Police Department told the Sun-Star.

Donte D. Williams, 28, was arrested just before 6:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of K Street in Merced, following a 15-minute chase with police, Sgt. Robert Solis said.

A Merced police officer spotted Williams driving a Chrysler van around 6:10 p.m. on Lobo Avenue in the Beachwood area, police said.

“The officer recognized him as one of the county’s most wanted suspects and went to stop him,” Solis said.

Police said the driver accelerated away and several officers joined the chase, which wound through several city streets and reached speeds of around 70 mph hour before Williams pulled over on K Street near an apartment complex.

“Officers had actually backed off a little because of the (residential) area,” Solis said. “That’s when he decided to try and take his chances running on foot.”

Williams fled through the complex but was quickly apprehended, police said.

He was named one of Merced County’s Most Wanted fugitives in March and a $100,000 warrant was issued charging him with a probation violation, according to the Merced County Sheriff’s Department.

Further details of the warrant were not available Monday.

Williams was taken to the Merced County Jail for booking, police said.

This story was originally published May 4, 2015 at 7:11 PM with the headline "Merced police capture ‘Most Wanted’ fugitive after car chase."