Escondido police officer charged with vehicular manslaughter after pursuit crash with e-bike rider

Added: 2026-06-07

[00:00:01]Yeah, Marcel, that deadly crash happened right here at the Escondido Creek Trail just about a year ago. That police officer police officer chased the man with his patrol car on the bike path here, which usually doesn't take cars, and that's when that fatal crash occurred. His family was in the courtroom today as they demand answers.

[00:00:19]>> Mr. Inko pleads not guilty to any and all allegations.

[00:00:23]>> In Vista court, 36-year-old Escondido police officer Jason Inko pleaded not guilty to one count of misdemeanor gross vehicular manslaughter in the death of 39-year-old Jacob Illeab.

[00:00:34]>> Yes, your honor.

[00:00:35]>> If convicted, he could face up to 1 year in jail.

[00:00:38]Prosecutors say the incident happened on August 21st, 2025.

[00:00:43]They say Inko started a pursuit of Illeab on a bike path near Valley Parkway and Rose Street in Escondido.

[00:00:49]>> We know at some point during the course of that pursuit, um a collision did occur.

[00:00:55]>> The DA says the charge is a misdemeanor instead of a felony because he says there was no gross negligence.

[00:01:01]>> The misdemeanor aligned with the evidence and therefore we charged the misdemeanor in the case.

[00:01:05]>> Prosecutors say Inko's patrol car hit Illeab. Illeab died at the scene from a head injury.

[00:01:10]>> We greatly appreciate the fact that this officer, like any citizen, is going to be held accountable for his criminal actions.

[00:01:17]>> Outside the courthouse, Illeab's family told me they still don't know why police tried to stop him in the first place.

[00:01:23]>> There was no crime being committed.

[00:01:24]There was no allegation that there was any type of probable cause to initiate a stop.

[00:01:29]>> The mother of Illeab's children also spoke.

[00:01:32]>> Love at first sight.

[00:01:33]Um Oh, we just we fell in love with each other.

[00:01:39]>> She says they spent 15 years together.

[00:01:42]Their two daughters, now 13 and 7, lost their father.

[00:01:45]>> And he was always there and they just knew him as the best dad in the world.

[00:01:49]>> She says Illeab lived with paralysis on the left side of his body after an accidental shooting. Because of that, she doesn't believe he was trying to flee from police.

[00:01:58]>> Well, he couldn't really run. He was He wasn't doing that. He wasn't running from the police.

[00:02:03]>> [snorts] >> The family says it plans to file file a federal civil lawsuit. I spoke to the Escondido Police Department earlier today. They said that Officer Inko is on administrative leave as the legal process plays out and his next court appearance will be for a jury trial at the end of September. Reporting live, I'm Alex Cheney. Back over to you.