Pedro Cervantes
RIVERSIDE — On Sunday, RPD officers responded to three separate calls of stolen vehicles, and all three ended in the arrests of would-be car thieves.
First, at 1:30 am, near Sharon and Tomlinson Avenues, police located a stolen Ford-F150 with a suspect trying to take off its license plate. His female companion was already sitting in the truck. 23-year-old Pedro Cervantes was on probation for vehicle theft and was arrested for grand theft auto.
Mercadel
Next, at 5:30 am, on the 4800 block of Grand Avenue, an officer responded to a call of a stolen vehicle. The vehicle was spotted and a chase ensued. The offending driver crashed the vehicle and, after a brief foot pursuit, was detained. 25-year-old Edmond Mercadel was also arrested for grand theft auto.
Salgado
Finally, at 1:30 pm, officers responded to yet another call of a stolen vehicle, near California and Arlington Avenues. Another pursuit began, and ended, as the suspect later ditched the Nissan Versa and tried his (bad) luck on foot. 19-year-old Jose Salgado was arrested for grand theft auto, in a 3-for-3 day of successful arrests for the RPD.
