Photo: end of the line
MARIN CITY — A GPS signal pinpointed the location of a stolen van at a shopping center, where authorities arrested two men. Both suspects are repeat offenders with lengthy rap sheets.
San Francisco police notified Marin County Sheriff’s deputies of the whereabouts of the van. Deputies proceeded to Marin Gateway Shopping Center, located at the intersection of Donahue Street and Drake Avenue.
Deputies found the van parked and unoccupied—and they established contact with Target store security staff. Inside the store, security watched both men whom they suspected were planning to steal something.
While deputies were waiting outside, both men ran out of Target and rushed inside the van. The driver attempted to flee. But the driver smashed into a fence instead—while apparently attempting to enter an on-ramp to Highway 101.
The van got tangled with the chain link fence, where deputies detained and arrested one of the suspects. The second suspect ran away from the van, but he was apprehended behind a West Marine store.
Both suspects were booked at Marin County Jail on March 27 at 2:45 p.m., where they remain in custody.
Justin W. Keller of San Francisco and Brandon A. Ramirez of Concord, both 24, each face a litany of charges. These include vehicle theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, shoplifting and possession of burglary tools, among other offenses.
Keller was previously arrested nine times for burglaries, vehicle thefts, drug possession, and other crimes. Similarly, Ramirez was previously arrested eight times.
