Theft Suspect Who Led Authorities On A Wild Pursuit Through Camarillo Pleads Not Guilty

Thursday January 30, 2025

      Update--A Los Angeles County man pleaded not guilty in a Ventura County court Thursday to charges stemming from a wild pursuit through Camarillo a week ago.

     24-year-old Jalen Amir Yoakum is facing nine counts involving the pursuit on January 24th plus several firearms violations.

     He also denied more than two dozen special allegations regarding prior crimes in Los Angeles.

     The chase in Camarillo started when Ventura County Sheriff's detectives were investigating Yoakum for alleged retail thefts and he fled hitting their vehicle and then several others on a pursuit through Camarillo that ended with a crash into another vehicle on Santa Rosa Road and Hill Canyon Road.

     Yoakum spent several days in the hospital with injuries suffered in the crash and then was transferred to the Ventura County Jail where he's being held on $2.1 million.

     He is also being held on two warrants out of Los Angeles, one for murder the other for robbery.