A woman was arrested after allegedly leading an officer on a high-speed chase and telling police she was Cleopatra, a prosecutor said.
Cristina Valdivia, 25, of San Francisco, was driving at high speed on Highway 1 from Half Moon Bay toward Pacifica when an officer stopped her Saturday morning, District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said.
Valdivia drove for 6.7 miles, speeding up to 75 mph, before reaching a dead end in a Vallemar cul-de-sac, Wagstaffe said. When the officer approached Valdivia, he noticed white powder around her lips and smelled alcohol, the DA said.
“Officer, I’m Cleopatra. I’m the queen of Egypt,” Valdivia told the deputy, according to Wagstaffe.
Before the officer could ask for her ID, Valdivia asked for help locating Julius Caesar, according to Wagstaffe.
Caesar was a dictator who ruled the Roman Republic through various wars until his assassination in 44 BC. Cleopatra was Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt during roughly the same period.
As the officer was about to arrest Valdivia, a man jumped out of the passenger seat and said he had tried to make her stop the car. The man told the officer that he wanted Valdivia to let him get out, but she wouldn’t let him, Wagstaffe said.
Valdivia has been charged with fleeing an officer, possession of drugs and kidnapping. She appeared in court on Wednesday and pleaded innocent. Valdivia was released on her own recognizance but was ordered to wear an ankle monitor. Her next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 1.