Juan Antonio Gonzaba, 39, appeared in San Diego Superior Court on Wednesday following Monday's terrifying midday incident, which sent pedestrians and cyclists scrambling out of the path of a speeding blue Tesla Model X. Gonzaba now faces felony charges of evading an officer causing serious bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, hit-and-run, vehicle theft and evading officers with reckless driving.
The new details substantially raise the stakes of a case that initially drew widespread attention because of dramatic videos showing the Tesla racing along one of San Diego's busiest beachfront walkways. Court records reviewed by local media indicate Gonzaba has accumulated numerous criminal cases involving offenses including burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, vehicle theft and attempted kidnapping, with cases spread across San Diego County.
Court records show at least 18 previous criminal cases dating back to 2009, while prosecutors said during Wednesday's arraignment that Gonzaba's criminal history extends as far back as 2006. Prosecutors further told the court that Gonzaba has five prior failures to appear, has been placed on probation 10 times and failed to comply with court-ordered mental health treatment in three previous cases.
Gonzaba's attorney entered not-guilty pleas to the charges and requested a medical evaluation. Gonzaba was disruptive during portions of Wednesday's proceeding, according to court reporting, and the judge ultimately ordered him held without bail, replacing an earlier $100,000 bail amount that had been reported following his arrest.
Gonzaba reportedly began banging his head against a glass wall during the arraignment and that the judge repeatedly instructed him to remain quiet. He could face as much as 24 years and eight months in state prison if convicted of all charges.
The extraordinary chain of events began shortly after noon Monday, September 14, when the owner of a stolen Tesla contacted San Diego police and was able to track the vehicle's location electronically. Officers spotted the vehicle at approximately 12:31pm traveling south on Mission Boulevard and attempted to stop it, but police allege Gonzaba refused to pull over and fled.
The pursuit quickly became dangerous. Police say Gonzaba drove into opposing traffic and struck a San Diego Gas & Electric transformer before continuing toward the beach, prompting a police supervisor to terminate the pursuit because of the escalating risk to the public.
But ending the police pursuit didn't end the danger. Authorities say Gonzaba drove the Tesla onto the Pacific Beach boardwalk from Pacific Beach Drive and accelerated along the heavily traveled pedestrian and bicycle path in the middle of the afternoon. Videos captured pedestrians frantically jumping out of the way as the vehicle raced through the beachfront corridor.
"The defendant made an extraordinarily dangerous choice," Deputy District Attorney Tyler Nigut told the court Wednesday. Nigut said the boardwalk was busy with pedestrians and cyclists and that people were forced to "literally jump out of the way" as the Tesla accelerated toward them.
At approximately 12:40pm, the Tesla struck a 25-year-old woman near Thomas and Reed avenues. Police said she suffered two fractured right ribs, two fractured vertebrae and a laceration to her abdomen requiring stitches. Despite the severity of her injuries, authorities have described them as serious but not life-threatening. The woman remained hospitalized as of Wednesday.
Other people on the boardwalk escaped by extraordinarily narrow margins. Video of the incident shows at least one pedestrian jumping over a railing moments before the Tesla passes, while San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesperson Candace Hadley said the outcome could have been dramatically worse given the number of people using the boardwalk.
"A lot of people dove out of the way very quickly and it really could have been so much worse," Hadley told reporters. "This is a very busy boardwalk, having someone drive through this area is incredibly frightening."
Gonzaba allegedly eventually stopped the Tesla near Baja Beach Cafe and attempted to escape on foot. That's when the bizarre pursuit took another turn: beachgoers decided to chase him themselves.
Among them was Alex Srour, who had been riding his bicycle on the boardwalk and captured much of the incident using Meta smart glasses. Srour told reporters that the Tesla struck his bicycle and that when he saw the driver get out and run, he took off after him. Srour even ditched his Birkenstocks during the foot chase to run faster. He and other bystanders eventually caught Gonzaba in a nearby parking area, got him onto the ground and held him until police arrived.
Adding an almost surreal visual to an already extraordinary scene, footage following the chase showed Gonzaba wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the phrase "F--- around and find out."
Police have also said they suspected Gonzaba was under the influence during the incident. Prosecutors told the court Wednesday that officers observed signs and symptoms consistent with impairment, although toxicology results remain pending and no conclusion about what, if any, substance was involved has been announced.
The disclosure of Gonzaba's criminal history is now bringing renewed attention to how someone with so many previous cases was out of custody at the time of Monday's incident. His prior cases included burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft and attempted kidnapping, and that he has spent periods incarcerated over the years.
The incident has also prompted a separate discussion about whether San Diego's beachfront boardwalks are adequately protected from unauthorized vehicles. Community activist Shane Harris called Tuesday for the city to conduct a 30-day security assessment of the Pacific Beach and Mission Beach boardwalks, including identifying potential vehicle access points and studying whether fixed or retractable bollards or other barriers could prevent a similar incident.
The fact that Monday's rampage didn't result in multiple deaths appears to have come down, at least in part, to pedestrians seeing the Tesla in time to get out of its path. Videos of the incident show just how little room separated several beachgoers from the speeding vehicle as it traveled through an area designed for people walking, biking and skating rather than automobile traffic.
Gonzaba remains jailed without bail and is scheduled to return to court on September 24. The charges against him are allegations, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Originally published on September 16, 2026.
