A man accused of smashing a police car and putting “multiple lives in danger” during a pursuit in the Lakes at Rancho El Dorado Saturday morning faces life behind bars.
The driver, 49-year-old Ronnie Dolejs, was booked on 25 criminal charges: five counts of felony criminal damage, three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, three counts of aggravated assault, three counts of endangerment, disorderly conduct, reckless driving, criminal speed, unlawful flight, criminal damage, failure to yield, aggravated DUI, DUI drugs, driving with a suspended plate, criminal nuisance and failing to comply.
Just after midnight, cops responded to West Cahill Drive and North Liles Lane on multiple reports of Dolejs driving erratically and doing donuts through the neighborhood. A caller told police he would shoot Dolejs if he “attempted to hit him again,” according to a police report.
When officers arrived, they heard the loud sound of screeching tires and saw a black Chevrolet Silverado with a Nebraska plate, driven by Dolejs, driving “at a fast speed rate” on North Bolivia Street and near Carey Road.
The officers flicked on their lights and sirens and tried to stop Dolejs, who reportedly accelerated and made “evasive movements” down the residential street. Multiple neighbors exited their homes and “formed a crowd” to see the commotion.
Dolejs almost hit a neighbor with his car, according to the probable cause statement. Dolejs reportedly continued driving erratically through the neighborhood at high speeds, driving down the center of the road and on the sidewalk.
Dolejs allegedly tried to hit two police cruisers, but the officers “performed rapid evasive maneuvers” to avoid him.
Police then initiated a pursuit on Dolejs, who collided head-on with an Officer Raynald St. Jour’s police truck on North Liles Lane. EMTs evaluated St. Jour, who was not injured.
Dolejs continued driving and veered onto a nearby driveway where five people were standing. The front yard’s landscape was “totaled” after landscape rock got launched toward the residents, who were hiding behind a car.
Dolejs also reportedly crashed into the sedan the family was hiding behind, then veered and hit a tree before getting wedged between the tree and the home.
Cops pointed their guns at the truck and tried to remove Dolejs from the driver’s seat, but all the handles on his car were removed. Police commanded Dolejs to get out of the truck, but he refused.
Dolejs eventually surrendered and was taken to the ground and placed in handcuffs.
Dolejs told police he couldn’t see their red and blue lights and admitted to using meth not long earlier. A warrant for his blood was issued, and he was booked into the Pinal County jail.
“We do not have any information on the cost of the police car’s damages at this time,” said public safety spokesperson Monica Williams. “It will take some time for our fleet department to assess the damage and determine if the vehicle can be repaired or if it will be totaled out.
“We do seek restitution for damages when applicable through private automobile insurance companies and applicable court-ordered restitution from suspects once they are adjudicated through the courts.”
Public records show Dolejs is a Nebraska resident. He was found guilty of reckless driving twice in Nebraska and Utah.
In Nebraska, he was also found guilty of failing to stop for police and was charged with three counts of theft and one count of DUI causing serious bodily harm. The dispositions of those cases are not available.
