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Crime & Safety

Christmas Eve Police Chase Leads to Stolen Vehicle Break

Spate of stolen Hondas in recent weeks, Police Department reports

The Napa Police Department has experienced an increase in stolen vehicles, usually early 1990s Hondas, according to a police report released yesterday. Many of the vehicles were taken and recovered the next day missing electronic equipment or other property belonging to the registered owners or victims

But a possible breakthrough came early on Christmas Eve when officers pulled over a car for a vehicle violation and the occupants fled, precipitating a chase.

On Dec. 24, 2012 at approximately 3:19 a.m., a Napa Police Officer initiated a traffic stop of a blue Honda Civic for a vehicle code violation. During the traffic stop on Carriage Place at Lathrop Street, a female passenger fled from the passenger compartment, and the male driver, later identified as 19-year old Gaspar Delacruz of Napa, fled in the vehicle.

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Delacruz led officers on six minute pursuit through the City of Napa, driving recklessly at high speeds and failing to stop for many stop signs and traffic lights. Delacruz left the roadway on two occasions and struck a street sign at the corner of Soscol Avenue and Old Soscol Way, but continued to flee from pursuing officers.

The pursuit ended on Trancas St near Valle Verde St. when the front driver’s side tire on the Honda Civic came off the rim. Delacruz immediately fled from the Honda on foot but was captured by officers on nearby Villa Lane.

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It was later discovered that the blue Honda Civic was an unreported stolen vehicle from the 3500 block of Twin Oaks Drive in the City of Napa CA, registered to R. Davis of that address.

Gaspar Delacruz was arrested for felony evading a police officer, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, hit and run, and violation of his Napa County probation. In addition to the above charges, Delacruz had two outstanding felony warrants out of Napa County.

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