Officers make arrest after spotting stolen car, police are
looking for other suspect
Morgan Hill – One suspect is still at large after a pursuit Monday night involving a stolen vehicle. Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies and Gilroy Police officers assisted Morgan Hill police officers in the pursuit.
Jerry Luna, 18, of Morgan Hill, was taken to Santa Clara County Jail charged with alleged grand theft of a vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle and probation violation.
Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing said the incident began when Morgan Hill police Cpl. Ray Ramos spotted a vehicle that had been reported stolen. He and other officers conducted surveillance of the vehicle, which was at Hillhaven Mobile Home Park in north Morgan Hill.
Eventually, Swing said, Luna and another suspect allegedly came out of the residence and got in the vehicle. Meanwhile, agents from the Regional Auto Theft Task Force (RATTF) had been notified and joined MHPD officers watching the vehicle. They followed the vehicle to East Dunne Avenue, where it stopped at the Chevron gas station. Luna was “surprised” by officers and arrested.
The other suspect, police said, is Robert Candelaria, 18, of Morgan Hill, who allegedly jumped out of the vehicle and ran from officers, possibly going through the lot at the Courtesy Chevrolet and the lot west of the dealership. Officers set up a perimeter and called for backup. They were assisted by Gilroy officers and sheriff’s deputies. No canine units were available in south county, Swing said, so the sheriff’s helicopter was brought into the action, using infrared technology to locate Candelaria.
After several hours, the search was called off, Swing said. RATTF will take over the investigation and pursue an arrest warrant for Candelaria.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
