Police Chase From Ventura County to Mexico Ends After Driver Turns Herself In

A woman who allegedly led California law enforcement officers on a dramatic, multi-county pursuit stretching from Simi Valley all the way to the U.S.–Mexico border has returned to the United States and surrendered to authorities, according to the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Alyssa Wilson, reportedly crossed back into the U.S. on Tuesday and voluntarily turned herself in before being taken into custody by Ventura County deputies.

This unusual case has raised questions about mental health intervention, multijurisdictional police chases, and public safety—topics Justice Watchdog follows closely in our ongoing coverage of legal news and law-enforcement accountability. For more coverage, visit our Legal News and Trending sections.

The Chase Began With a Stolen Minivan in Thousand Oaks

Authorities say the incident started Monday morning when Wilson allegedly stole a minivan from a sober living home on the 1900 block of East Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks. A Ventura County patrol unit spotted the vehicle in Simi Valley shortly afterward and initiated a traffic stop.

Instead of pulling over, Wilson reportedly fled and entered the 118 Freeway, quickly reaching speeds of up to 90 mph, though officials noted she never accelerated to extreme levels typically associated with high-risk pursuits.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Wilson appeared to be experiencing a mental health crisis at the time. In fact, her mother was the one who contacted the California Highway Patrol (CHP) for assistance—an aspect of the case that highlights ongoing concerns about the lack of mental-health-first-response options in California.

Pursuit Continues Through Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties

Helicopter footage joined the chase around 11:15 a.m. as the minivan passed through Sherman Oaks. When Wilson entered the 405 Freeway, CHP officially took over the pursuit.

From there, she remained on the southbound 405 for most of the chase, traveling through:

• Los Angeles County

• Orange County

• San Diego County

Wilson eventually transitioned onto the southbound I-5, then onto the 805 Freeway, heading straight toward the international border.

Just before 1:30 p.m., Wilson crossed into Mexico, prompting CHP to terminate the pursuit due to jurisdictional limits. The entire chase covered an estimated 155 miles in a little over two hours, aided by unusually light traffic conditions.

Multiple Spike Strip Attempts Failed

Throughout the pursuit, officers attempted at least four spike strip deployments, all of which were unsuccessful. On one occasion, traffic on the I-5 near Oceanside was halted to lay down a strip directly in the van’s path—but the device reportedly malfunctioned and failed to deploy.

Officials say Wilson maneuvered around the other attempts, evading tire deflation and maintaining control of the vehicle for the duration of the pursuit.

Suspect Returns From Mexico and Surrenders

After crossing the border, Wilson entered Mexico—though authorities have not released information regarding her activities or whereabouts while there.

On Tuesday, she voluntarily returned to the United States and turned herself in. She was subsequently transferred into the custody of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

Officials have not yet announced formal charges, though the case involves potential allegations of:

• Vehicle theft

• Evading law enforcement

• Reckless driving

• Possible mental-health-related considerations

Justice Watchdog will continue monitoring updates from Ventura County officials, CHP, and potential court proceedings.

Legal and Public Safety Context

This case raises broader questions about California’s approach to:

• Cross-county police pursuit policies

• Border-adjacent law-enforcement coordination

• Non-violent suspects experiencing mental health crises

• The effectiveness and safety of spike strip deployment

For additional public records, refer to the Ventura County Sheriff's Office public information page.