The wild Tesla joyride suspect accused of plowing into a woman on a San Diego beach boardwalk has been revealed as a career criminal with an “extensive criminal history.”
Juan Antonio Gonzaba, 39, pleaded not guilty Wednesday after allegedly stealing a Tesla and seriously injuring a 25-year-old woman during a chaotic police chase Monday.
Gonzaba faces up to 24 years and eight months in state prison if convicted on all charges.
The suspect allegedly stole the Tesla in La Jolla and was spotted around 12:30 p.m. before speeding away from officers attempting to pull him over.
He later slammed into a roadside electrical transformer before continuing toward the Pacific Beach Boardwalk, sending terrified pedestrians diving out of his way.
The woman was struck and suffered two fractured right ribs, two fractured vertebrae and an abdominal laceration, police said. She was still in the hospital as of Wednesday.
“A lot of people dove out of the way very quickly and it really could have been so much worse,” Candace Hadley, a San Diego Fire Department public information officer, told NBC San Diego Monday.
“This is a very busy boardwalk, having someone drive through this area is incredibly frightening.”
Gonzaba eventually abandoned the Tesla and was chased by bystanders, with one witness capturing the wild pursuit on Meta smart glasses.
Alex Srour, who was wearing the glasses, witnessed the chaos and began sprinting after Gonzaba before police took him into custody.
The suspect’s criminal past soon came to light.
Gonzaba has an “extensive criminal history” involving assault, battery, burglary and grand theft, according to NBC 7.
His court appearance Wednesday was nearly as chaotic as the chase.
Gonzaba reportedly acted erratically during his arraignment and began banging his head against a glass wall. The judge also repeatedly ordered him to remain quiet.
Gonzaba is suspected of being under the influence at the time of the incident. Results from a blood test remain pending.
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