Intensive Manhunt Leads to Arrests in Santa Cruz Vehicle Theft and Burglary Spree
Photo: Stock Image
“On September 28, 2024, the Santa Cruz Police Department responded to a vehicle theft report in the 300 block of Riverside Avenue. During the investigation, two suspects, Michelle Grieb and Gerardo Menchaca, were identified through surveillance video.
Around 11:15 PM, officers located the stolen vehicle in the 1000 block of Ocean Street. Menchaca, the driver, fled from the officers, heading northbound on Ocean Street and then onto northbound Highway 17. The pursuit continued until the vehicle was involved in a traffic collision near Granite Creek Road and Highway 17. Menchaca abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot but was apprehended shortly after.
Grieb,who was injured and unable to escape, was taken into custody and later received treatment at a hospital in Santa Clara County.
In addition to the vehicle theft, Grief, Menchaca, and another male suspect are linked to a series of commercial burglaries in Santa Cruz between September 12 and September 27, 2024. Detectives are actively investigating these burglary cases; additional charges against the suspects are expected. Gerardo Menchaca was booked on multiple charges, including vehicle theft, evading law enforcement, hit and run resulting in injury, violation of parole, and two counts of burglary. Michelle Grieb was booked for
possession of stolen property and false checks. The third suspect has been identified and is currently in custody in another county on unrelated charges; a warrant for his arrest related to the burglaries is pending.”
