SUSPECT CAUGHT AFTER CHASE PALMDALE MAN HELD WITHOUT BAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

PALMDALE - A Palmdale man wanted on auto theft and spousal assault charges fled his apartment in his underwear and led deputies on a brief car chase through Palmdale, officials said.

Deputies called off Wednesday morning's pursuit after about three minutes when the speed got too high, but caught Roland Johnson soon after at his girlfriend's apartment, officials said.

``The speeds were determined to be unsafe so the deputies terminated the pursuit based on the fact that we already knew who the guy was and that we were going to get the guy eventually,'' Deputy Dave Miklos said.

Johnson, 22, was wanted on no-bail warrants charging him with spousal assault and auto theft as well as for questioning in the Feb. 11 robbery of an ATM courier, whose briefcase containing $8,000 was snatched when he set it down outside a supermarket at 47th Street East and Avenue S.

Officials said Johnson is not suspected of committing the ATM robbery but believe he has information in the case.

After his arrest, Johnson was being held at the Lancaster sheriff's station jail without bail on the warrants and on additional charges of suspicion of felony evading a peace officer and of receiving stolen property, the car he was driving.

Deputies went to Johnson's apartment on East Avenue Q-11 about 8:30 a.m. to arrest him on the warrants. He apparently spotted them coming and, wearing only underwear, ran to another apartment.

While deputies began surrounding the building, Johnson ran out - now clothed - and jumped in a white Nissan Maxima, which sped off.

The Nissan sped down 10th Street East toward Avenue S and then turned east along Avenue S.

Investigators were told Johnson might be headed toward his girlfriend's apartment in the Longhorn Pavilion complex on 25th Street East and Avenue S.

When deputies arrived, they found the Maxima in the parking lot and Johnson in his girlfriend's apartment. He was arrested without incident.

During their investigation, detectives discovered that the Nissan had been stolen in Los Angeles on April 11. The auto theft warrants allege that Johnson was involved in the leasing and subsequent theft of two rental vehicles.