Rupert Michael Gil
Santa Barbara police and a county helicopter tracked down a stolen vehicle Friday morning and arrested the driver on Westside.
The incident began shortly after 10 a.m. when a Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s patrol vehicle received a LoJack alert for a stolen vehicle in the State Street and Highway 154 area, according to Department spokesman Anthony Wagner. Santa Barbara Police Department.
The deputy tried to pull the vehicle – a red Cadillac – but the driver fled into the city.
The trail ran around the Mission Street area to La Cumbre Road, across the highway, then down Modoc Road to Westside.
The driver operated several red lights, according to the emergency radio traffic, so the officers who were driving in the pursuit withdrew and put a county helicopter to track the vehicle.
The investigation ended in a vacant lot on the 1800 block on San Pascual Street, where the suspect got out of the vehicle and was taken into custody at some point, Wagner said.
The suspect was identified as Rupert Michael Gil, 18, of Santa Maria, Wagner said.
Gil was imprisoned in Santa Barbara County on suspicion of vehicle theft, a crime that evaded arrest, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug accessories.
Come back to Noozhawk for updates on this story.
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