On Sunday, May 31, the Hollister Police Department arrested a 17-year-old male suspected of burglarizing a home on B Street and leading police on a vehicle pursuit before crashing the vehicle into a power pole.Â
At about 2 a.m. Sunday, Hollister Police and San Benito County Sheriff’s deputies were in the area of the 800 block of Powell St. investigating a report of an interrupted residential burglary. Santa Cruz 911 then received a call from a home on the 800 block of B Street reporting someone had just walked into their home and took the keys to their vehicle and stole a white 2013 VW Jetta.Â
Sergeant James Weathers quickly located the stolen vehicle northbound on Westside Boulevard, where the driver of the stolen car failed to yield and led police on a vehicle pursuit on Fourth Street and then southbound on Monterey Street.Â
Police say the driver of the stolen car drove in a reckless manner and failed to negotiate a left turn from Monterey Street onto Nash Road. The Jetta crashed into a power pole at the intersection and the driver fled on foot through the south campus of San Benito High School. Officers and deputies chased the suspect onto the north campus and eventually set up a perimeter that extended to Powell Street where the suspect was located and arrested.Â
Police determined the suspect was already on probation for prior, similar criminal acts. He was taken to Hazel Hawkins Hospital for medical clearance for minor injuries sustained during the crash and subsequent foot chase. He was later booked at the San Benito County Juvenile Hall for burglary, vehicle theft, reckless evading of a peace officer, hit and run collision, resisting arrest and driving while under the influence.Â
Anyone with information on this case is asked to call the Hollister Police Department at 636-4330. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can call the WeTip Hotline at 800-87-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.Â