Gilroy
– Police snared a Gilroy man wanted for battery and drug abuse
Monday, thanks to a resident’s tip.
Gilroy – Police snared a Gilroy man wanted for battery and drug abuse Monday, thanks to a resident’s tip.
Kenneth Elias, 20, had been listed in the Dispatch as ‘Gilroy’s No. 1 Most Wanted’ since March 9. A community member spotted Elias at the corner of First and Hanna streets Monday afternoon just after 2:30pm, and called Gilroy police, who sped to the scene. Elias bolted when a police cruiser approached. Three officers pursued him on foot, scaling fences and darting through alleyways.
It took five minutes, but Officer Martin Beltran nabbed Elias near the corner of Hanna Street and La Sierra Way, and was quickly joined by Officers Jason Smith, Royce Heath, and Cpl. Jeff Guerrin, who arrested him, said GPD Sgt. Jim Gillio.
Elias was arrested on warrants for battery, being under the influence of a controlled substance, marijuana possession, resisting arrest, and new charges of possession of drug paraphernalia – a pipe – and resisting arrest.
Officers deployed a TASER to stop Elias, but the weapon’s prongs were stopped by his clothing.
When officers took him to the hospital – standard protocol after a TASER is deployed – they were surprised to find that the TASER left no mark. No one was injured during the pursuit.
Elias’ warrants totaled more than $23,500, and his bail was set at $25,500. His next court appearance is 9am April 10.
