Suspect steals UPS truck, engages in Fremont police standoff
Suspect steals UPS truck, engages in Fremont police standoff
A suspect who is possibly armed stole a UPS truck early Thursday morning and barricaded himself inside, engaging in a four-hour standoff with Fremont police, officials said.
FREMONT, Calif. - A suspect authorities initially believed was armed was taken into custody after allegedly stealing a UPS truck early Thursday and barricading himself inside, triggering a four-hour standoff with Fremont police, officials said.
The situation ended just before 6 a.m.
Driving ‘erratically’
What we know:
"The suspect barricaded in the vehicle for several hours," Sgt. Cooper Mauldin said. "After a brief negotiation, the suspect was safely taken into custody inside the vehicle."
The incident began about 1:30 a.m., when police spokeswoman Amy Gee said officers received calls about a delivery truck being driven "erratically" in the 5500 block of Cushing Parkway.
Police pursued the truck, which shortly thereafter became disabled on Grimmer Boulevard north of Auto Mall Parkway, Gee said.
KTVU crews at the scene captured images of the truck, which did not appear heavily damaged. It was stopped on the street in front of a Star One gas station.
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Suspect barricades inside truck
Dig deeper:
Police contacted UPS and confirmed the truck had been stolen. Gee said initial, unconfirmed information suggested the suspect might be armed.
The suspect, later identified as 27-year-old Rafael Taniguchi Garcia of Union City, barricaded himself inside the truck.
The Fremont Police Department’s Special Response Team responded and negotiated with Garcia, who eventually climbed out of the vehicle and surrendered.
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Arrest
Garcia was seen being taken away on a gurney and transported to a hospital after complaining of a headache.
"No force was used during the arrest, and the suspect was medically cleared at a local hospital and later booked into Santa Rita Jail," Fremont police said in a press release.
Garcia was booked on several charges, including unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle, felony reckless evading, and resisting a peace officer.
Police did not immediately confirm whether the suspect was armed.