Originally published as a Salinas Police Department Facebook post –
“Yesterday at 3:15 am, an alert resident called our dispatchers to report three subjects were stealing her neighbor’s truck in the 1200 block of Paseo Grande. The suspects were associated with a gray sedan (Infiniti) and the vehicle they were stealing was a white 2000 Ford Super Duty.
An officer was on patrol near Williams Rd. and Freedom Pkwy, when he spotted the two vehicles traveling northbound on Williams Rd., towards Old Stage Rd.
The officer continued to follow as patrol units arrived in the area. As a high-risk traffic stop was initiated, a pursuit ensued on San Juan Grade Rd. to Crazy Horse Cyn. Rd. The pursuit terminated when the Infiniti collided into a sound wall near Executive Drive and then rolled off the embankment.
Two occupants were removed from the vehicle. The driver Jose Vargas Garibay (38) had moved to the back seat to avoid being identified as the driver while the passenger, Eduardo Alcantar (32), was locked into the front passenger seat by the seat belt. Garibay was identified on scene as the driver.
Both have a lengthy criminal history out of Alameda County/Oakland. Garibay was arrested on November 29th, in Santa Clara County for being in possession of a stolen vehicle, evading and possession of stolen property.
Both suspects were treated and released at the hospital then transferred to county jail where they were booked facing charges of possession of stolen vehicle, evading and conspiracy.
The stolen Ford pickup was later recovered unoccupied, the third suspect was not located.
We appreciate the assist from the alert resident who took the time to notify police. Neighbors helping neighbors and the police is what it is all about.”
