Gabriel Quijas arrested after threatening man and leading police on high-speed chase: El Cajon police

A man was fatally struck by a vehicle in El Cajon Saturday evening, police said.

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A man was arrested after allegedly threatening a person living in a tent in an El Cajon park and then leading police on a high-speed chase, which ended at headquarters of the SDPD.

The El Cajon Police Department reports officers responded to Prescott Promenade, 200 E. Main Street in El Cajon, early Monday morning to receive reports of a serious incident involving a male suspect .

According to the police department, a man – identified as Gabriel Quijas, 48, of Spring Valley – is accused of threatening a man and deliberately driving his vehicle into a tent occupied by the man on Sunday.

While officers were in the park gathering information and obtaining victim statements around 5:50 a.m. Monday, Quijas was seen driving by in a Cadillac Escalade. Police say witnesses were able to positively identify him as the suspect.

El Cajon police say officers attempted to stop Quijas, but he took off and a pursuit began. Quijas allegedly led police onto Interstate 8 while driving at a high rate of speed. At one point, police say he stopped abruptly, almost causing a crash with a pursuing police car. He is also accused of attempting to ram the police vehicle and forcing it into the highway's concrete center divider barrier.

Police said Quijas eventually drove off the highway toward downtown San Diego, then stopped in front of San Diego Police Headquarters at 1401 Broadway and got out of his vehicle.

Although he got out of his vehicle, police say Quijas continued to ignore officers' commands, leading them to use a police K-9 to help arrest him.

Gabriel Quijas was booked into San Diego County Central Jail and faces several criminal charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on peace officers and evading arrest with wanton contempt for the safety.