Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies established a containment zone in Valencia Sunday, as they searched for — and ultimately caught — a felony suspect who’d reportedly stolen a vehicle.
The incident was reported around 9:30 a.m. when deputies located a white Chevrolet Trailblazer that had been reported stolen near Decoro Drive, according to SCV Sheriff’s Station Capt. Justin Diez.
“They initially initiated a traffic stop,” Diez said from the scene. “The suspect, who was driving the vehicle, got out and ran, and a pursuit ensued.”
While the passenger remained in the vehicle and complied with deputies as they were taken into custody, a containment of the area was set up for the driver, Diez added.
A Sheriff’s Department’s Aero Bureau helicopter could be seen overhead in the area, alerting residents that deputies were searching for the felony suspect.
With the help of residents calling in tips on the suspect’s location and Aero, deputies were able to locate the suspect within the hour nearby in the Valencia neighborhood, according to Diez.
The suspect, described as a local gang member, was arrested on suspicion of vehicle theft and possession of narcotics paraphernalia, among other charges, Diez said.
— Signal Photographer Bobby Block contributed to this report.
