Early Morning Truck Thefts Lead to Chase, Arrest

Early Thursday morning, October 25, at about 3:10 a.m., Napa Police Department dispatch received a call from a victim in the 1000 block of Johnston St. reporting his work truck had just been stolen.

About 12 minutes later, dispatch received another call of a separate work truck being stolen from the 2200 block of West Park Ave, according to Capt. Jeff Troendly of the NPD.

An officer spied a truck matching the description of the second theft, a white Ford utlity truck, going southbound on State Route 29 / 12. A registration check revealed the truck was registered to the second victim on West Park Ave., and the officer gave chase.

The suspect failed to yield and was pursued. During the chase, the suspect did not stop at several red lights before eventually becoming involved in an accident in Vallejo, where he fled from the truck on foot.

The suspect was apprehended in a lot near the crash scene by Vallejo Police officers and taken into custody. The suspect was medically cleared and booked at Napa County Department of Corrections.

The suspect was identified as Richard Griffith, 41, of Albany. He was on probation out of Alameda County for a 10851 California Vehicle Code conviction, Theft and Unlawful Taking or Driving of a Vehicle.

The other truck stolen from Johnston St. was recovered in the Crosswalk Community Church on 1st. St.