Man hits police vehicle with stolen Escalade

Watsonville Police Sgt. Brian Ridgway (left) joins other officers in a recovery of a stolen Cadillac Escalade on Lee Road Tuesday after the driver reportedly slammed into a police vehicle. (Photo by Tarmo Hannula/Register-Pajaronian)

WATSONVILLE — The Watsonville Police Department is looking for a man who rammed a parking control vehicle with a stolen truck and hit another vehicle as he fled from police.

WPD Parking Enforcement Officer Pete Batin was in the parking structure at West Beach and Rodriguez streets at about 1 p.m. when he saw a silver, 2007 Cadillac Escalade that resembled one stolen from his neighbor Monday night. As Batin looked at the vehicle, the suspect pulled out of the spot, ramming Batin’s vehicle out of the way.

“When I saw him he started up and took off,” Batin said.

The suspect then hit a Honda Odyssey as he drove away, said WPD. Sgt. Brian Ridgway.

Police immediately began looking for an Escalade with front-end damage and quickly located it after the suspect abandoned it in the parking lot of the Red Roof Inn at 1620 West Beach Street.

In their investigation, Watsonville police lifted two usable fingerprints.

The Escalade sustained minor damage, including scrapes to both sides and a broken rear view mirror.

Additionally, two child car seats were missing from the Escalade.

The owner, who asked not to be identified, said he left the keys in the ignition during a visit to his brother’s house Monday night, an oversight that stemmed from getting his three-year-old and five-year-old children from the vehicle.

“I thought, ‘what are the chances it’s going to get stolen tonight?,’” he said.

The owner said he bought the Escalade new for about $64,000.

“I’m kind of happy to have it back, but to know that someone was in there with all my stuff is the scary part,” he said. “Those are family things.”



For the complete article see the 05-29-2012 issue.

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