In an early morning escapade, 45-year-old Pacifica transient Jeffrey Lee Fonda left a trail of destruction in San Mateo County. According to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, Fonda was apprehended after he allegedly stole a vehicle, crashed through two park gates, and then tried to vanish by blending into the backdrop of the Crystal Springs landscape. Last Friday, deputies answered the call to the hit-and-run near Crystal Springs Dam at Skyline Blvd, locating the stolen vehicle abandoned yet smoldering with a recent path of felony vandalism left behind.
At dawn, around 7:20 a.m. on January 19, the drama unfolded as Fonda purportedly careened down the secured pathway of San Mateo County Parks, making a desperate beeline for the San Francisco Public Utility Commission reservoir. The car, a stolen specter from Pacifica, was found alone and damaged. After searching, officers from the Sheriff's Office found Fonda lurking behind a tree, where deputies could detain him without further incident. In a statement by the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, it was revealed that "the vehicle Fonda was driving had been stolen earlier in the morning from Pacifica."
Please take a look at our recent press release regarding a ‘Stolen Vehicle & Felony Vandalism Arrest’ which occurred in Unincorporated San Mateo County, CA on 1/19/24 pic.twitter.com/vTasWyEIsB
— San Mateo County S.O (@SMCSheriff) January 20, 2024
The car owner was informed of the disheartening news, and Pacifica PD documented the stolen vehicle report. Not only did Fonda allegedly engage in motorized banditry, but he also confessed to the aforementioned gate-crashing escapade. The Sheriff's Office, joining hands with several other agencies, commended the cooperative spirit that led to Fonda's capture and subsequent booking at Maguire Correctional Facility, where he now faces three felony charges. The California Highway Patrol is leading ongoing inquiries.
The San Mateo Sheriff's Office extended a heartfelt "gratitude to the Pacifica Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, and the Park Rangers from San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and San Mateo County Parks for their assistance." They encourage anyone with more information on this case to contact Deputy Crocker or call the Anonymous Tip Line if necessary.
