PALMDALE – A parolee at large was captured Tuesday morning after leading deputies on an erratic, high-speed chase in a stolen vehicle, authorities said.
The chase ended when Joseph Darling slammed his vehicle into a patrol car occupied by deputies. Palmdale Station Detectives are now seeking additional victims in the incident, specifically the female driver that the parolee attempted to run off the road, and the two pedestrians nearly struck in a local 7-Eleven driveway.
The following is the press release from the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station:
On Tuesday, August 6th at approximately 7:10 a.m., a Palmdale deputy initiated a traffic stop of a driver in a red Honda Civic, after being flagged down by a victim who told him that the driver had attempted to run her off of the road, on 9th Street East, in the City of Palmdale.
The driver, 32-year-old Canyon Country resident Joseph Darling, yielded by pulling into the parking lot of the “7-11” at Sierra Hwy/Palmdale Blvd. The deputy exited his patrol car and approached Darling’s vehicle, issuing commands for him to turn off his engine. As he approached, Darling suddenly sped away, nearly running over two pedestrians walking across the driveway. Darling turned westbound onto Palmdale Blvd, and sped toward the 14 Freeway.
The deputy initiated a pursuit. Darling entered the southbound on-ramp of the 14 Freeway at a high rate of speed, and collided with the outer turn guard rail. He continued southbound on the 14 Freeway, as other Palmdale Sheriff units responded and joined the pursuit.
Darling continued southbound on the 14 Freeway at high speed, driving erratically. As he drove under the Sierra Hwy off-ramp overpass, he swerved, loss control of the vehicle, and spun out, colliding with the center median. The vehicle came to rest facing northbound, just north of the Soledad Canyon Rd exit.
Darling shifted into reverse, and drove in reverse, southbound scraping the center median, for approximately one quarter mile. Darling then stopped, and the pursuing units set up to conduct a felony suspect extraction.
Darling suddenly shifted into drive and drove northbound, toward the stopped units, in the wrong direction of freeway traffic. He drove past the stopped units, passing them along the center median. The deputies were maneuvering to reposition when Darling suddenly made a sharp left turn, apparently attempting to head for the Soledad Canyon Road freeway exit. As he did, he collided with the front bumper of a patrol vehicle. He continued to accelerate, and aimed his vehicle toward another patrol vehicle.
Darling collided head-on, with significant impact force, with the patrol vehicle occupied by Deputies. As Darling was attempting to reverse and continue fleeing, a deputy maneuvered his vehicle’s push-bar against the suspect vehicle’s driver door, blocking his escape and preventing further risk of injury to the deputies and public.
Darling was taken into custody, and transported to Antelope Valley Hospital for medical evaluation.
The involved deputies suffered minor injuries and complaints of pain.
The vehicle Darling was driving during this incident was confirmed to be a stolen vehicle, with a vehicle theft report call for service pending at the time of the pursuit.
Darling has a history of narcotics use, and exhibited signs consistent with being under the influence of a narcotic at the time of this incident. Darling was released on AB-109 (Governor’s Prisoner Realignment Program) early in 2013, and violated the terms of his parole when he failed to meet with his parole officer in March. He is a wanted outstanding parolee, with an active no-bail parole violation warrant and was actively being sought by the department’s Parole Compliance teams.
Darling was booked at the Palmdale Sheriff Station on several charges: Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer with a bail amount of $50,000, Vehicle Theft with a bail amount of $30,000, Evading Arrest $75,000, Driving Under the Influence of a Narcotic $5,000, Driving with a Suspended License $500.00 and Parole Violation, No Bail. Darling is scheduled to be arraigned on August 8th, 2013 at the Antelope Valley Court House.
Palmdale Station Detectives are seeking the additional victims in this incident, specifically the female driver that the suspect attempted to run off the road, and the two pedestrians nearly struck in the “7-11” driveway. Victims are asked to contact Palmdale Station at 661-272-2400.
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Memememe says
Has anybody else noticed that the last couple of guys to do crazy stuff aroun here aren’t even from here? The guys that went the opposite way on the freeway were from Canyon Country and Burbank. This guy was from Canyon Country also. Why don’t they go act crazy and commit these crimes in their own classy neighborhoods. Aren’t both those places considered some of the safest cities in Southern California?
sars says
He was probably out here for meth the av is like the place where its at if only enough people cared to help clean the av up. This city has turned to trash people robbing eldars and stealing and you cant even trust the cops look at the cop who raped woman but maybe its also ca going to [removed]
Robin says
Sorry that guy was from Lake Los Angeles. He went to school out there.His family still lives out there. Maybe you should know what you are talking about before you post stuff.
xtina says
This said he is from san fernando valley talk bad about everyone from available he said he is from Tarzan. I guess the treatment center. Not the city of
Memememe says
The second paragraph says resident of Canyon Country. I’m sorry I don’t know him personally along with his entire family history… Wait a minute, no Im not! Trash.
jody says
wrong again he was living in palmdale with me his fiance jody!!!and his family is in palmdale not lake la
Memememe says
Well you sure know how to pick ’em honey ;)
Renate says
In their defense the article does say he is from Canyon Country, so they are going by what is being reported.
Cheryl says
These guys who do the high speed chases are no different then the N. Hollywood bank robbers & should be treated as the same. They all seem to be career criminals, out to hurt or kill as many as possible as long as there is chance they get away.
Don’t understand why they don’t start pulling up next to them & just ending it right there.
Nancy P says
What can be done to stop the AB109 flood of early release prisoners?
Citizen of Antelope Valley says
Vote Republican
interested says
Amen to THAT! Jerry Brown has destroyed what little decency was left of California.
Joe Mama says
Get ready. 10,000 are being released before the end of 2013. Just stock up on ammunition.
P. says
Exactly!! Lock up your children for the child molesters, rapists, and abductors!! I’m ready to put my house up for sale and move out of this disgusting state, which I was born and raised in!! Sad situation all around.
Why not build a prison out in the middle of nowhere where it’s HOT, DRY and miserable. Let them sleep in tents too! These guys will get released, have their “fun” and get arrested again just to go back to prison where they have 3 meals a day, hot showers, a bed, and clean clothes (prison garb), as they KNOW what a good thing they have in prison. Hell some of our families here in the AV don’t even have it that good!! (End of rant!)
Giggles333 says
Open Alacatraz again!
Send them all there instead of out on our streets! They will never swim for it.
God help this state, and country.
JustaMom says
CA could learn a few things about recidivism rates from Sheriff Joe in AZ. The tents sure seem effective there as well as the work details. I was born and raised in the AV but lived in AZ for a while. I felt safer there for 2 reasons: 1) the prisoners were treated as prisoners and were not coddled. They did their full sentences as well as work in the prison garden or on a chain gang picking up trash and garbage along the roadsides. They were in the tents when it was over 100 degrees and/or raining cats and dogs during the monsoon season and 2) since AZ is an open carry state, you don’t know who has a gun on their person or not so not many robberies of persons or businesses.
justsaying says
I always said why not build a prison in the middle of the desert and make the prisoners grow they own food (veg/beef, etc.) go back to the cot, 1 blanket, no pillow, no special condiments for their 3 meals which 1 should be bread and water. Cut out the TV room, exercise yard and with the money saved, BUILD more prisons in the hot dusty desert. And keep them there for the full sentence, no more out early for good behavior. Serve their full time!!! just saying!!
BGF says
If we want them to grow their own food it would make more sense to build the prisons where they is water.. maybe closer to Swampcramento?
BGF says
damn spell check…
PITTSBURGH MUDSLIDE says
First off good job to the LEO’S. In response to what you can do?
1)Vote Republican
2)Learn to protect yourself
3)Support your community
4)Stay employed
5)Encourage instead of discourage
6)Be positive and stop blaming people
7)Last but the most important believe in God.
BGF says
Believing in superstitious nonsense does NOTHING apart from enable you to talk to yourself.
Mr. Mister says
Such a revelation! Voting Republican will change everything wrong in this world!
Sheesh!
Mr. Mister says
Last Republican California governor-mistake
Last Republican POTUS-mistake
Maybe we need to be electing Independents who can understand things from both sides and reach a compromise.
William says
Let’s see about voting republican
Stock market crashed under Hoover in 1929.
Stock market crashed under Reagan in 1997.
Stock market crashed under Bush the Lessor in 2008.
Any more bright ideas, MUDSLIDE? God is not on the side of republicans even though they pretend to worship Him.
kentucky blue says
if they serve their time or get out their family and friends stick around. in the interest of fairness i should say that not everyone in prison has family members that break the law. however, the class of people coming to lancaster seems to be getting lower and lower. i literally have not been to a store recently and not been hit up for a dollar. not change but a whole dollar. anyone else feel like youre gonna get stabbed or robbed if you dont give in?
Nancy P says
Why would anyone stop for kids/strangers, who are obviously up to no good, and hand over their belongings???? Crazy.
If anyone comes into my personal space, I tell them to get away from me.
I would never give the freeloaders hanging around the gas stations or in front of the grocery store a single dime.
As they are walking toward me trying to make eye contact, I look at them straight in the eye and say “NO, get away from me”. Most of them look strung out. They should go to a shelter if they need help.
I do find it real sad to see the strung out couple with the baby girl hanging around Valley Central area. No diaper bag or bottles of water for the baby. The baby I will help. Mom and dad need to take care of themselves and insure the safety of the baby.
kentucky blue says
the entire town of lancaster has become the “shelter”.
Uncle Tom says
Ramming patrol cars, this guy is lucky he wasn’t shot. Hey, how about we toss in about $100 additional in losses for each person who was stuck on the freeway, had to take detours, or was late for work due to this genius.
BTW, to the people exiting the freeway by using the ‘on-ramps’ and got stopped by CHP, I hope you all got tickets. I literally clapped as I passed you guys on Ave. S this morning.
soapbox journal says
Such an upstanding citizen, sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Jill says
Now if they had just left him in jail where he belongs, none of this would have happened…
sars says
Ca does not have room or money to house inmates that is why ab109 was passed the amount of people going to prison is crazy
kentucky blue says
sars is right .the only thing more shocking than how many people will be released is how many will return in 6 months.