Police Identify Burglary Suspect Involved In Folsom Crash

FOLSOM (CBS13) — Police have identified the man accused of burglarizing two Folsom businesses and leading officers on a chase Monday that ended when he slammed his car into a van carrying a woman and her daughter.

Steven Russell Carson, 25, of Modesto had an existing warrant out for his arrest for burglary when he allegedly targeted two more businesses at a strip mall in the 300 block of East Bidwell Street on Monday.

An employee at Say Salon says the suspect broke into the salon then knocked a large hole in the wall so he could get inside a neighboring skate shop. She ran to a nearby business and called 911, and when she returned to get Carson's license plate number, the two made contact and he drove away.

Police spotted the sedan and chased the suspect through Folsom streets. Carson was reportedly headed westbound on Blue Ravine Road when he crashed into the side of a van carrying a mother and child as it was turning on Blue Ravine Road from Big Valley Road.

The woman suffered minor injuries related to the airbag going off and was taken to the hospital to be treated. The child was not injured.

Carson was treated at the hospital and booked into the Sacramento County Jail for burglary, possession of stolen property, evading police and auto theft, according to Folsom Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Bates.

Steve Carignan's daughter was behind the wheel.

"It could have easily resulted in death for both of them," he said.

Their family minivan is totaled. Its front end was smashed in and they were sent into a 360-degree spin by the impact.

"I've been against chases because of the collateral damage that I've seen through the years," Carignan said. "If they used some new technology, they could stop a lot of injuries like this."

Carson's bail is set at $220,000.