High-tech surveillance in Rio Vista led to a humorous end for a suspected car thief Sunday, when an innovative camera system put cops hot on the heels of a much-surprised crook. The Rio Vista Police Department reported that their Flock automated license plate reader (ALPR) cameras detected a stolen vehicle's entry into town, an incident that quickly spiraled into a comical chase with a fashion-challenged fugitive.
The officer on Patrol Team 1 discovered the vehicle parked at a local McDonald's on SR-12, and surveilled as the suspect, donned in gloves and a balaclava, attempted to nonchalantly enter the restaurant. But his bid for a fast-food disguise crumbled when the suspect took off upon spotting the lawman. Rio Vista police described the sequence of events in a Facebook post, detailing how the man's getaway was quite literally tripped up by his own baggy pants, forcing him to clumsily hustle around the building.
According to the Rio Vista Police Department's social media update, the 43-year-old man from Vacaville appeared to recognize the futility of his escape when his pants began to give way. Choosing discretion over the further display of his wardrobe malfunction, the man surrendered to the pursuing officer as he rounded the corner by the drive-through.
The officers' search of the stolen vehicle unearthed drug paraphernalia, a stun gun, and an Airsoft pistol – items that, under different circumstances, could have easily escalated the incident beyond a petty crime. Rio Vista Police reflected on the potential dangers inherent in even seemingly routine investigations, and highlighted how this episode, given its comedic turns, fortunately stopped short of tragedy. The suspect was detained without injury, bringing a safe close to what could have been a far more serious scenario.
