Cherry Valley Man Accused of Attempted Murder Preceding Beaumont Police Chase

A Cherry Valley man accused of shooting another in Beaumont was jailed Wednesday awaiting a preliminary hearing on attempted murder charges, according to police reports.

Beaumont police Wednesday announced the arrest of 37-year-old Daniel Chavez, who was nabbed late Tuesday night in the area of Palm Avenue and 5th Street.

Chavez was apparently a passenger in a truck which failed to stop for police, leading them on a brief pursuit through town, according to Police Spokeswoman Darci Mulvihill.  

He was eventually taken into custody-- around the same time that a man walked into Banning's San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital with a gunshot wound, and police say they linked him to the crime.

Here's the full press release from the Beaumont Police Department: 

On Tuesday, January 28, 2014, at approximately 10:15 p.m., an officer from the Beaumont Police Department attempted to pull over a black Dodge Ram truck for speeding in the area of 6th Street and Beaumont Avenue. 

The truck failed to stop and led the officer on a brief pursuit that ended in the 500 block of Palm Avenue when the driver stopped the truck and fled on foot. The vehicle’s passenger, identified as Daniel Chavez, age 37 of Cherry Valley, was detained for questioning. Officers searched the surrounding area, but were unable to locate the driver of the vehicle.

While still investigating the vehicle pursuit, officers were notified that an adult male had driven himself to San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds. During the investigation, it was determined that Chavez had shot the victim in the area of 5th Street and Beaumont Avenue. Chavez was booked into Smith Correctional Facility on attempted murder and various weapon charges.

The investigation is currently on-going and detectives are investigating the relationship between Chavez and the victim to determine why he was targeted. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the on-duty Watch Commander of the Beaumont Police Department at (951) 769-8500. Information can also be sent to crimetips@beaumontpd.org or reported anonymously to WeTip at 1-800- 78-CRIME.