A Redway man was arrested Tuesday, Nov. 6 after allegedly stealing a car from a Eureka dealership and leading police on a 100 mph chase. According to a press release at round 3:40 p.m., a Fortuna police officer observed a new Dodge Durango driving erratically on southbound Hwy. 101.

The driver, later identified as Paul Force, age 39, did not yield to the officer, who was notified that the vehicle was reported stolen from a Lithia dealership.

Additional officers from Fortuna and Rio Dell joined the pursuit, and a Fortuna patrol car was damaged when Force attempted a U-turn on the freeway. The officer was not injured.

After turning onto Shively Road Force lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch. He attempted to flee on foot, and officers used a taser on him twice before he was taken into custody._

Force was treated at Redwood Memorial Hospital for minor injuries and booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of auto theft, felony pursuit and resisting arrest. A Fortuna police officer sustained a minor injury to his leg during the foot pursuit.