Visalia Woman Sentenced to 5 Years for High-Speed Chase That Injured Officer

By Anthony W. Haddad

Published 5 hours ago on

February 7, 2025

A Tulare police officer was seriously injured and his patrol car damaged when a suspect crashed into him. Lacey Gonzalez, 38, of Visalia, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, for a 2022 high-speed chase. (Tulare County District Attorney's Office)

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

A Visalia woman was sentenced Friday to five years in state prison for a 2022 high-speed chase in Tulare that left a police officer seriously injured, the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement.

Lacey Gonzalez, 38, received the sentence after pleading no contest to multiple felony charges, including fleeing a pursuing officer while driving recklessly, driving under the influence of a drug causing injury, and vehicle theft.

Lacey Gonzalez, 38, of Visalia, woman was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, for a 2022 high-speed chase in Tulare that left a police officer seriously injured. (Tulare County DA) — Lacey Gonzalez, 38, of Visalia, was sentenced to five years in prison on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025, for a 2022 high-speed chase in Tulare that left a police officer seriously injured. (Tulare County DA)

On March 5, 2022, Tulare police attempted to stop a stolen Ford Flex driven by Gonzalez, officials said.

She failed to yield, leading officers on a high-speed chase that ended in a major collision with a patrol vehicle. The officer involved lost consciousness and had significant injuries.

Gonzalez later admitted to stealing the vehicle and fleeing to avoid arrest. She also told authorities she had used methamphetamine before driving.

The DA’s office said her charges were enhanced due to the seriousness of the offense, the severity of the officer’s injuries, and a prior auto theft conviction.

She entered her plea on Jan. 13.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.

DON'T MISS

Newsom Signs $50M Plan to Battle Trump Policies, Support Immigrants

DON'T MISS

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

DON'T MISS

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

DON'T MISS

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

DON'T MISS

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

DON'T MISS

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

DON'T MISS

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

DON'T MISS

State Department Lays out Plans for $7 Billion-Plus Arms Sale to Israel

DON'T MISS

Donation to Food Bank to Provide 1.3M Meals to Western Fresno County

UP NEXT

Fresno Students Entering the Work World Need Your Help to ‘Dress the Part’

UP NEXT

Hanford Shooting Leaves One Dead, Another in Critical Condition

UP NEXT

Rabies Detected in Fresno, Reedley. Fresno County Urges Caution Around Wild, Stray Animals

UP NEXT

Plane Located That Matches the One That Went Missing in Alaska With 10 Aboard; 3 Bodies Found

UP NEXT

Trump Says He’s Revoking Biden’s Security Clearance in Payback Move

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Seek Public’s Help in Locating Missing 75-Year-Old Man

UP NEXT

Fresno Students Walk Out of Class to Protest Deportations

UP NEXT

State Department Lays out Plans for $7 Billion-Plus Arms Sale to Israel

UP NEXT

Donation to Food Bank to Provide 1.3M Meals to Western Fresno County

UP NEXT

Fresno Mission Opens Second Thrift Store Supporting Homeless, Recovering Addicts

Anthony W. Haddad,

Multimedia Journalist

Anthony W. Haddad, who graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with his undergraduate degree and has an MBA at Fresno State, is the Swiss Army knife of GV Wire. He writes stories, manages social media, and represents the organization on the ground.