A crew of theft suspects found themselves in handcuffs after a highway pursuit led by the Petaluma Police Department proved unsuccessful in their escape. Following a grab-and-run incident last Saturday at the Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, where the Nike store was reportedly robbed of more than $950 in merchandise, officers were quick to dispatch. According to the Petaluma Police Department , employees identified the escape vehicle as a silver Ford F-150, already known to authorities from a previous theft at the same location.

In an effort that demonstrated inter-agency collaboration, the suspects' vehicle was spotted on Highway 101 by a vigilant officer. Once air support arrived from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Helicopter Henry-1, along with resources from California Highway Patrol and Novato PD in position, they attempted to stop the Ford, which instead opted to continue through Novato. The pursuit was a measured affair, never breaking the 65 MPH speed barrier before the suspects yielded south of Ignacio Blvd.

All three individuals in the Ford were detained, filled with evidence from their recent outing. Jose Garcia Cruz, an 18-year-old from Richmond, was identified as the main actor in the theft, while the other two were revealed as juveniles. Garcia Cruz was booked into Sonoma County Jail on several charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime and shoplifting. The juveniles faced similar charges, with an added count for the driver for vehicle evasion.