Photo of stolen truck (Highland News)
LOMA LINDA – A 29-year-old man on felony probation was spotted stealing a truck, but a citizen followed him until San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies were able to track him down in a foot pursuit on Thursday night.
Ernest Joseph Salgado, 29, of Colton, was wearing an uncharged ankle monitoring device when he was chased down by deputies responding to the alert shortly before 9 p.m.
Salgado was seen driving the truck at Barton Road and Mountain View Avenue by a man who, according to reports, “thought it was his friend’s stolen Nissan Titan truck.” He followed the truck, updating deputies about its location until they could respond.
Sheriff’s aviation located the truck from the air while travelling westbound on Barton Road, entering neighboring San Bernardino. Driving erratically after he observed the light from the sheriff’s helicopter, eventually turning into Liberty Court, a cul-de-sac.
Salgado, determining that he was unable to escape in the stolen truck, began to flee on foot. He was detained after a short pursuit, according to reports.
Once in custody, it was determined that he was on Post Release Community Supervision probation with the ankle device.
Salgado, charged with grand theft auto and possession of stolen property, was arrested and taken to Central Detention Center in San Bernardino.
The truck, which had originally been reported stolen in the nearby city of Redlands on September 18, was released to the registered owner at the scene.
Authorities noted that Felony PRCS is part of the state’s plan requiring the drop of prison population, available to offenders with non-violent, non-sexual and non-serious convictions. Salgado had served a reduced sentence under Assembly Bill 109, which complied with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision under the plan.
Salgado, held on $50,000 bail, will appear in San Bernardino Superior Court on September 26.
