Sheriff: Fleeing driver tried to run over deputy

A Newcastle man is behind bars on suspicion of trying to run over a deputy during a cat-and-mouse pursuit on rural roads. Talon Thor Findley, 27, was taken into custody early Sunday morning and remained jailed Tuesday facing a variety of charges connected to a lengthy chase in the Newcastle area. The pursuit started, according to the Sheriff's Office, when deputies near Loomis spotted a 2006 Cadillac DTS leaving the scene of a suspected drug sale near Loomis. When the deputies attempted to make a traffic stop, the vehicle fled toward Newcastle and out of sight, the Sheriff's Office reported. A deputy found the Cadillac in the town of Newcastle a short time later — but no driver. "When the deputy spotted the car again near the intersection of Old State Highway and Taylor Road, the Cadillac quickly reversed toward the patrol vehicle, almost striking the deputy and his vehicle," a Sheriff's Office Facebook post stated. A Sheriff's Office report obtained by the Journal stated that the driver "crashed" the Cadillac and "tried to run the deputy over." The deputy was uninjured and the car again disappeared into the night — this time toward Penryn. At Highway 193 and Sierra College Boulevard, deputies sighted the black Cadillac a fourth time and another pursuit started — and again broke off with the car evading patrol vehicles. Deputies drove to the registered owner's home on Mandarin Hill Road and found the Cadillac — but not the driver. Findley — the suspected driver and Cadillac owner — was known to be on Placer County probation. The Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team searched the residence, but did not locate the driver. Detectives responded to the scene and located firearms and ammunition in the house, a violation of Findley's probation, the Sheriff's Office said. Findley also had a felony conviction from Ohio, and was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a convicted felon. While detectives were combing through Mandarin Hill Road house, a detective on Highway 193 between Newcastle and Lincoln saw a truck registered to Findley traveling toward the home. A felony traffic stop was initiated, and Findley surrendered without incident, the Sheriff's Office said. More ammunition is alleged by authorities to have been found inside the truck. Findley was booked into the Auburn Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, felony evading a peace officer, being a felon in possession of ammunition, being a felon in possession of a firearm and violation of his Placer County probation. He was being held on $625,000 bail.