Witness spots stolen truck, rides with...then catches driver near 24th and S. Taylor early today...
On 8-25-15, at about 7:25 AM, officers were sent to the area of 24th and S. Taylor on a report that someone had caught a man that had been driving a stolen truck. There was also a call that a vehicle struck a house in the 2500 block of S. Polk, and that the suspect involved in that was at 24th and S. Taylor. Officers found that the incident started when witnesses saw a truck that they knew was stolen on the parking lot of the Wal-Mart at IH-40 and S. Grand. The white 2008 Dodge had been stolen in Hereford last Monday. The vehicle’s owner and two employees had stopped at the Wal-Mart to make a purchase when they spotted their stolen work pickup on the parking lot. While they were notifying the police, a HM came out of the store and got into the stolen pickup. One of the employees told the driver to stay because the police were being called. At some point, one of the employees got on the bed of the vehicle. The auto theft suspect drove away at a high rate of speed, with the witness still on board. Near 24th and S. Polk, the suspect got out of the vehicle. The suspect apparently failed to put the vehicle in park. After he got out, it rolled forward and hit a house, causing minor damage. The witness that had been riding on the back of the fleeing vehicle chased and caught the suspect and detained him until officers arrived. The suspect was Gilbert Hernandez, HM 40, of Hereford. Officers found that he was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and what is believed to be just under three grams of methamphetamine. He was booked into the Potter County Detention Center for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of marijuana. Investigating officers noted that the stolen vehicle had been re-tagged with license plates that were reported stolen. There were no injuries in the incident.
Address/Location
Amarillo Police Department
200 SE 3rd Ave
Amarillo, TX 79101
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 806-378-4257
Sgt. Brent Barbee
Crime Prevention Unit
[email protected]
806-378-4257
2200 South Taylor Street
Amarillo, TX 79109