High-speed chase from Crown Point ended in La Jolla crash A San Diego man accused of stealing a boat motor in Crown Point and leading police on a high-speed chase that ended in La Jolla suddenly pleaded guilty to all charges just after jury selection started in his trial. William Steven Starke, 47, faces up to nine years in prison. Starke pleaded guilty to assault on police officers with his car, evading police with reckless driving, receiving stolen property, auto theft and vandalism in a March 15, 2008 incident. Deputy District Attorney Steven Marquardt said he was surprised by Starke agreeing to plead guilty on April 27 just as a jury panel had been called up and assembled outside the courtroom. “He pleaded guilty to all counts with an exposure in excess of nine years,” Marquardt said. Starke broke the locks and chains around an outboard motor on a boat in the Crown Point area that was owned by Harbor Police. He didn’t realize the motor had a global positioning system that alerted Harbor Police of the 1:30 a.m. theft. Police officers began following Starke, who refused to pull over as the chase continued through Mission Bay and then La Jolla. Starke deliberately rammed the stolen car he was driving into a police car on Avenida Manana in the Mount Soledad area of La Jolla. The officers were not injured in the collision. Starke found himself on a cul-de-sac in a Volkswagen Jetta that had been reported stolen. An officer broke out one of the car’s windows, cutting his hand. Starke’s dog, a Rottweiler, jumped out of the car and reportedly charged officers. Two police officers shot the dog to death. Because he is awaiting sentencing, the judge changed Starke’s bail figure to no bail, and he remains in the George Bailey Detention Facility.