Four Ceres males were arrested after conspiring to steal cars.
The arrests stemmed from a 10:39 p.m. Friday report of males trying to break into an Acura park in the 3400 block of Moonview Drive. Officers checked the area but did not immediately locate any suspect.
Sgt. Vince Hooper spotted a black Honda CRV and a Red Pontiac Grand Am leaving the area in tandem so he followed them and realized they seemed to try avoiding him while eastbound on Roeding Road from Mitchell Road. The driver of the Honda sped away as the Pontiac followed at a slower rate as if to block Sgt. Hooper from going after it. Sgt. Hooper made note of the paper plate on the Pontiac as he passed and caught up to the Honda on westbound Don Pedro. Because the Honda driver began driving erratic, Sgt. Hooper activated his emergency lights and a pursuit was initiated. The chase went northbound on Moore Road to eastbound Whitmore Avenue to northbound Boothe Road where the Honda driver was unable to make the turn. As Sgt. Hooper pulled behind the Honda the driver backed into his patrol car. The driver fled on foot but his two 16-year-old passengers remained and were arrested.
The Honda was running without keys in the ignition, indicating it had been recently stolen.
Despite a search with the help of the Sheriff Department, the driver was not located.
Meanwhile, the red Pontiac Grand Am with the paper plate was later spotted by Officer Eric Souza on Tranquil Lane near the area where the Honda driver had fled. Driving the car was Tyler Underwood, 22, of Ceres. Police learned that one of the Underwood’s associates was a 17-year-old Ceres boy who was positively identified through a booking photo as the driver of the Honda. Police said the teen and the other two juveniles had been dropped off in the neighborhood by Underwood and they stole the Honda.
Tyler and the two juveniles were booked. Underwood faces charges of grand theft auto, conspiracy to commit a crime and parole violations. The 17-year-old Honda driver was arrested on August 8 and admitted his involvement. He faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, grand theft auto, evading a police officer and possession of a stolen vehicle.
The two 16-year-olds face charges of grand theft auto and possession of a stolen vehicle.
