Full Notification

WANTED FELONY SUSPECT CAPTURED

Ripon, CA – Today, at approximately 1030 am, an alert citizen called the Ripon Police Department to report a suspicious person in a vehicle, in the 500 block of Ripona Avenue.

Ripon officers immediately located the vehicle. A check on the vehicle was made and officers learned a suspect associated with the vehicle was wanted by the Oakdale Police Department on felony domestic violence charges.

Officers made contact with the wanted suspect, and he immediately fled the area on foot. Officer Richard Francis chased the suspect on foot in the 600 block of Ripona Ave. At one point, the suspect was seen hiding on the roof of a residence. As additional Ripon officers began to arrive on scene, the suspect ran across Ripona Ave. Lt. Steve Merchant chased the suspect into an alleyway that runs between Ripona Ave and Ridge Ave.

Officers quickly set up a perimeter, and began a search of the area.
Manteca K-9 Officer Goforth and his partner “Gunner” responded to assist in the search for the suspect. Officers located a duplex in the 600 block of Ripona Ave. that appeared to have been broken into by the suspect. A number of attempts were made to have the suspect come out peacefully. He refused to comply with requests to give himself up.

Due to indications that the suspect may have armed himself, the Manteca-Ripon Swat team was activated. Officers on scene heard the suspect kicking out a wall in the shared attic of the duplex. After over 3 hours, the suspect emerged from the adjoining duplex and he was taken into custody without incident.

Due to the fact that the suspect, Austin James Hensley (27) of Oakdale, was wanted on felony domestic violence charges in Stanislaus County; he was released on a citation for the Ripon charges and he was turned over to the Oakdale Police Department.

The Ripon Police Department would like to thank a number of citizens who reported valuable information regarding this case. Their assistance, led to a peaceful conclusion to this serious event.

Ripon PD command staff also wanted to thank the Manteca Police Department, the Ripon Fire Department, and the San Joaquin County Auto Theft Task Force for their assistance with this case.

Contact Info:
P.I.O.
Ripon Police Department
259 N. Wilma Ave.
Ripon, CA 95336
209-599-2102 Business
[email protected]