Juvenile Arrested for Stealing Vehicle

HOLLISTER—For a few hours a group of teenagers thought it would be fun to take a ‘joyride’ in a stolen vehicle.  Their fun came to an end when an officer with the Hollister Police Department spotted them and decided to pull them over.

Vehicle chase began near this intersection

While on routine patrol in the area of Line Street and Nash Road, Officer Judy Rodriguez of The Hollister Police Department observed a white Chevrolet Caprice traveling with its headlights off.

“It’s not like it would of helped hide them, we have a car equipped with a license plate reader,” Hollister Police Captain David Westrick said. “There is nothing joyful about being arrested for a felony, this was a big error in judgment on the teen’s part.”

As Officer Rodriguez initiated a high-risk stop, the driver of the Caprice decided that it would be a good time to run from the police.  After a short pursuit, the vehicle eventually came to a stop as it crashed into a tree.

Several teenagers in the car exited the vehicle after the crash and ran from the police. Other officers converged on the area of Dunne Park and began an area search for the teenage subjects.

Officer Paddy of the Hollister Police department found a 15-year-old hiding in a backyard of a home on Fifth Street.  The juvenile was transported to San Benito Juvenile Hall and charged with theft or unauthorized use of a vehicle, evading peace officers with reckless driving, buying or receiving stolen property, vandalism and resisting arrest, as well as obstructing or delaying a public officer.

The Hollister Police department is looking for assistance in identifying the other occupants of the vehicle.  Anyone with information regarding this incident is requested to contact the Hollister Police Department at 831-636-430.  Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at 800-78-CRIME.  Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.

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