Full Notification

On 09-14-17, at 11:33 am, Ripon Community Services Officer Liz Forks was at the Angle Petroleum gas station located at 341 E. Main St. in Ripon. This gas station was the victim of an armed robbery in July of this year. She spotted a suspicious vehicle in the gas station parking lot and she immediately provided dispatch with the license plate number.

Ripon dispatchers quickly broadcast information that the vehicle had been entered into the system by the San Jose Police Department as being stolen several days earlier.

Ripon Officers immediately began searching the area for the vehicle. School Resource Officer Trevor McGinnis responded to the area in the department's fully marked Ford Mustang Interceptor.  SRO McGinnis spotted the vehicle on northbound Hwy 99. He rapidly caught up to the suspect as he was approaching the N/B Hwy 99 Yosemite Ave. exit in Manteca. A felony car stop was conducted with the assistance of the FBI and the Delta Regional Auto Theft Task Force.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident.  The suspect told investigators he was suprised to see a police mustang behind him.

Jesus Eduardo Sanchez-Avila (22) Of Winton Ca. was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on charges that included Auto Theft, possession of stolen property.

Department spokesperson Lieutenant Steve Merchant said, “From the CSO to dispatch to the SRO to the patrol team to the outside agencies assisting us; this arrest was a great example of teamwork.”

P.I.O.-Lieutenant Steve Merchant Ripon Police Department 259 N. Wilma Ave. Ripon, CA 95366 209-599-2102 Business 209-599-0262 Desk 209-599-4034 FAX [email protected]