Police: Man Claims He's the Devil and God

Updated: Thursday, 05 Jan 2012, 3:23 PM MST
Published : Thursday, 05 Jan 2012, 12:56 PM MST

GILBERT, Ariz. - A driver who led police on a pursuit in the east valley and crashed into two squad cars has been arrested.

The pursuit began Wednesday in Gilbert along the eastbound Loop 202 near Williams Field Road and continued for nearly 17 miles -- before he crashed his car near Recker Road.

Before the crash, police say several people called 911 to report the man's car weaving all over the road.

After ramming the cars, 22-year-old Ernest Abeita barricaded himself inside his 2003 Pontiac Grand Am. Police had to break the car's back window and struggled with him for more than five minutes before finally taking him into custody.

According to court paperwork, police say Abeita was threatened to kill officers and their families during the struggle.

SkyFOX was over the scene just as police were putting the suspect into handcuffs.

Abeita was injured in the crash and had to be loaded onto a stretcher.

Police say when Abeita was arrested, he told officers he was the devil, he was God and white people were messing up his land.

Abeita was hospitalized for a mental evaluation and will be booked into the 4th Avenue Jail for aggravated assault on a police officer, felony flight and DUI.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news...d-god-01052012