Suspect remains at large
By Rachelle Gines Staff writer
Gilroy – Authorities are searching for the driver of a stolen car who fled on foot after crashing the Mercedes Benz through a fence and into the front door and window of a Church Street residence about midnight Tuesday, authorities said.
Two sections of the green, wrought-iron fence that lined the property lay mangled on the lawn, with shattered glass and dirt swept up to the front of the house. The debris sits diagonally opposite the memorial dedicated to 5-year-old Brayan Trejo’s memorial, who was killed crossing the 10th and Church Streets intersection Tuesday, July 27.
Chris Armstrong, Public Information Officer for the California Highway Patrol, said personnel from the OnStar security system installed in the car alerted the CHP that the vehicle was stolen.
CHP officers then located the 2-door SL 600 Mercedez Benz southbound on Highway 101. Armstrong said the officer stopped the suspect on the 10th Street offramp.
The vehicle pulled over to the right of the shoulder, and Armstrong said the suspect complied with officers as CHP began felony stop procedures. However, the vehicle accelerated rapidly and officers got back in and began to follow the car.
“This was not a pursuit,” Armstrong said.
By the next time CHP officers saw the vehicle, it had already crashed into the house, and the suspect was no where to be found. Armstrong said the Gilroy Police Department set up a perimeter to locate the suspect, and brought out the K-9 unit, but could not locate the suspects.
Armstrong said the vehicle was towed at 1:36am. It is unclear whether or not the residence at 7001 is occupied.
Rachelle Gines is an intern attending San Francisco State University. Reach her at 847-1758, or at rg****@************ch.com.
