Police say hit-and-run suspect tattooed her face and dyed her hair pink to evade arrest

Santa Ana police have arrested the suspected driver in a hit-and-run collision last month that killed a Saddleback High School drum-line instructor, authorities said.

Despite going to great lengths to evade police, Tracy Capp, 36, was arrested Saturday night, said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department. Capp had dyed her hair pink, changed her eye color with contact lenses and tattooed a dragon on her face to avoid detection, he said.

“This was a case that we have been working nonstop,� Bertagna said. “She knew we were looking for her.�

Based on a tip, police placed a home in the southeast section of the city under surveillance and observed the suspect leaving the home in a stolen vehicle Saturday, Bertagna said.

When police tried to pull her over, Capp sped away and led police on a brief pursuit before stopping and running from the car, Bertagna said.

Capp was eventually apprehended with the help of a police dog and was taken to a hospital to be treated for injuries, Bertagna said.

She remained hospitalized Sunday, and was expected to be booked on suspicion of felony hit-and-run, vehicular manslaughter, felony reckless evading of police and battery on a police officer, Bertagna said.

The hit-and-run occurred last month when a black, four-door BMW fatally struck 26-year-old Chris Chavez as it was running a red light.

A witness photographed the female driver, who stepped out of the sedan, looked at the victim and then drove away, Bertagna said.

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