A Lodi police officer inspects a car after the driver and passenger led police on a chase and crashed the vehicle at Lockeford Street and Cherokee Lane, before fleeing on foot. (Jennifer M. Howell/News-Sentinel)

Lodi police arrest naked man after chase

Lodi police arrested two people, one of whom was completely naked, after a long, high-speed chase Friday afternoon through Victor and Lodi's Eastside.

The vehicle chase ended when the driver of a turquoise Ford Aspire crashed, first into a GMC truck at the intersection of Lockeford Street and Cherokee Lane, then into a utility pole at the northwest corner, Motor Officer Larry Vietz said.

The driver, a woman, got out of the crashed car and ran southbound on Cherokee Lane, where she was arrested, Vietz said.

A male passenger, confronted by an officer, broke open the side window and escaped, running southwest across Lockeford Street, through the Payless Building Supply onto Railroad Avenue and into several back yards, Vietz said.

Police did not release the suspects' names Friday.

At one time, the male suspect was reportedly wearing blue coveralls but no shirt. A short time later, he was described by an officer on the police radio as "completely naked."

The chase began as a routine traffic stop at 12:56 p.m. at Stockton Street and Lodi Avenue, where Vietz said he intended to stop the Aspire for a traffic light violation and expired registration.

The Aspire sped through Eastside streets and alleys, then eventually as far east as Tecklenburg Road in Victor before heading back west into Lodi, Vietz said. The car went about 75 mph on Lodi Avenue and 80 mph on Pine Street, he said.

The crash took place as the driver of the truck was making a left turn from northbound Cherokee Lane to westbound Lockeford Street, Vietz said. The light turned red while the truck driver was still in the intersection, so he had the legal right to complete his turn, Vietz said.

The driver of the Aspire, who had a green light, went west through the intersection and crashed into the truck, Vietz said.

Neither suspect was injured because air bags were deployed, Vietz said. The truck driver complained of pain to his left arm, Vietz said.

Drug paraphernalia was found in the Aspire, Vietz said.