A 19-year-old suspected car thief was taken into custody Sunday after a high-speed pursuit through San Marcos that ended with a foot chase in a neighborhood park. Deputies say the driver ditched the car at Hollandia Park, tried to bolt, and was caught after a brief run. Speeds reportedly hit close to 80 mph before the arrest.
According to deputies, an Automatic License Plate Recognition system flagged a stolen white 2022 Kia Forte heading north on Nordahl Road at Montiel Road. The car was later spotted in the Stater Bros. parking lot at 1330 E. Mission Road, where the driver refused to stop and took off, prompting the chase that reached about 80 mph. The pursuit ended at Hollandia Park when the suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran, but he was quickly detained after a short foot pursuit. The Sheriff's Office identified the driver as 19-year-old Johan Carranza Acosta and said he was taken to Kaiser Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, auto theft and possession of a stolen vehicle, as reported by KGTV.
How deputies tracked the stolen car
Authorities credited an ALPR (automatic license plate reader) alert with tipping them off to the stolen Kia and getting deputies into position quickly. The San Diego County Sheriff's Office has rolled out ALPR cameras in parts of the county and says the technology is used to locate stolen vehicles and support investigations while following department rules on privacy and data use, as detailed by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office.
Charges and next steps
The Sheriff's Office said Acosta was booked into the Vista Detention Facility on suspicion of evading a peace officer with disregard for public safety, auto theft and possession of a stolen vehicle. Officials added that he showed signs of being under the influence and was taken to Kaiser for medical clearance before booking. Prosecutors are expected to review the case and decide on formal charges, according to KGTV.
Anyone who has video, photos or information related to the incident is asked to call the San Marcos Sheriff's Station at (760) 510-5200, the department said. The Sheriff's Office website also offers options for non-emergency tips and additional resources for those who have information to share.
