A homeless Sacramento man is facing numerous felony charges after allegedly stealing a police cruiser and leading officers on a high-speed pursuit down Highway 99 that ended only after dozens of law enforcement personnel responded near Lodi on Friday.
Background
The incident began around 12:30 p.m. when Sacramento police responded to reports of vandalism near Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue, according to authorities. Officers attempted to detain the suspect but he fled from police on foot, running directly to a patrol vehicle and jumping inside before driving off with the cruiser, authorities said.
The pursuit continued down Highway 99 through Sacramento as officers worked to coordinate a response to the stolen emergency vehicle. Because the patrol car contained department-issued weapons, the situation carried added risks for law enforcement personnel during the chase.
California Highway Patrol officers eventually intercepted the vehicle near Lodi and took the suspect into custody without any injuries to officers involved in the incident, authorities said.
The Investigation
Police identified the suspect as 28-year-old Isaac Paval of Sacramento. Officials confirmed that Paval has a known criminal history in the Sacramento area and is currently on pretrial probation for a DUI offense at the time of his arrest Friday.
Investigators are working to determine whether Paval accessed a rifle secured inside the stolen cruiser during the pursuit. Sacramento Police Officer Anthony Gamble told reporters that officials have not yet confirmed if the suspect was able to get to the weapon, which was stored in a safety lock.
"If we're able to confirm that did in fact happen the suspect would be charged with multiple charges," Gamble said at a press briefing following the arrest.
Following his apprehension, Paval was taken to a hospital as a precaution and is expected to be booked into the Sacramento Main Jail once he is medically cleared. It remains unclear whether the department had the ability to remotely disable the stolen patrol vehicle, according to Gamble.
Key Takeaways
- The suspect fled from officers on foot before allegedly stealing the police cruiser near Marysville Boulevard and South Avenue around 12:30 p.m.
- California Highway Patrol officers stopped the pursuit near Lodi and took Paval into custody without injuries to law enforcement personnel.
- Paval is currently on pretrial probation for a DUI offense in Sacramento.
- Investigators have not confirmed whether the suspect accessed a rifle secured in a safety lock inside the stolen cruiser.
What's Next
Paval faces multiple felony charges related to vehicle theft, evasion, and potentially additional counts depending on what investigators confirm regarding access to department weapons. He is expected to be booked into the Sacramento Main Jail following his medical clearance from the hospital. The Sacramento Police Department stated it will evaluate the incident and review whether policy changes can prevent similar situations in the future.