Corner of Airport & Freedom, Watsonville | Google Maps
WATSONVILLE — Police arrested 20-year-old Ivan Becerra after he’d taken a Honda van for a joy ride through the streets of Watsonville on Thursday morning.
At about 6:46 AM, police received a report from a man who said his van had been stolen. Officer Bryan Fuentez responded and was told that the van had been left unattended as it warmed up, for which he drafted a stolen vehicle report before leaving the scene.
At 10:53 that night, a report came in of a reckless driver in the area of Airport & Freedom Boulevards. The reporting citizen followed the van and updated police until ultimately losing sight of it.
Police were able to confirm that the vehicle was indeed the stolen Honda van from that morning.
An agent from the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team eventually located it and followed it in an unmarked vehicle, until a marked vehicle was able to assume position and conduct a high-risk stop.
The suspect led police on a pursuit west on West Beach Road until finally pulling over in the parking lot of Pajaro Dunes.
The suspect, identified as Becerra, was arrested and taken to Santa Cruz County Jail on charges of vehicle theft and DUI.
