Ventura Police Department – Incident Press Release
On April 7th at 4:57 PM< the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a subject that was possibly under the influence disturbing passersby on the Promenade near Paseo De Playa. As officers arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with the subject, later identified as Michael Dougherty, DOB: 01/31/90, San Francisco Resident, he ran from officers, got into a nearby parked vehicle and fled at a high rate of speed. A short time later, it was reported that the vehicle he was driving had possibly been stolen.
Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop on Dougherty, who was acting erratically and stopped several times in the middle of the road to yell at the officers. As Dougherty entered the Downtown area of Ventura and continued driving on several different streets, officers did not initiate a vehicle pursue because of the danger he posed to the public.
Dougherty ultimately entered Highway 101 northbound from Oak St., at which time officers initiated a vehicle pursuit. With officers pursuing him, Dougherty continued on Highway 101 at speeds ranging between 50-85 MPH. The California Highway Patrol was contacted to assist with the vehicle pursuit. As he was entering Santa Barbara County, Dougherty exited at Casitas Pass Rd. and entered back onto Highway 101 southbound towards Ventura. When he exited at the Main St. off-ramp into Ventura, the pursuit was terminated due to the continued danger Dougherty’s driving posed to the public. After terminating the vehicle pursuit, Dougherty entered back onto the Highway 101 northbound.
Approximately 10 minutes later, the California Highway Patrol started receiving 911 calls of a reckless driver on Highway 101 near Padre Juan Canyon Rd. overpass. One caller reported that
Dougherty had stopped on the shoulder and fled on foot, across the highway. The California Highway Patrol and Ventura County Sheriff’s Department responded and started searching for him. He was seen a short time later near the Faria Beach Park and fled from CHP officers and deputies on foot. Dougherty entered a residence in the 4000 block of Pacific Coast Highway and taken into custody after being tased.
Officers from the Ventura Police Department responded and took custody of Dougherty. After he was medically cleared for minor injuries he sustained when running on foot, he was arrested for felony evading arrest in a vehicle, driving under the influence, and resisting arrest.
It was later determined the vehicle he was driving was taken from a relative who did not know Dougherty had taken it, therefore it was not stolen.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Dougherty plead guilty for the same charges in September of 2017, and was due to be back in court this month for additional court proceedings related to that conviction.
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