Manteca Police Sergeant Mike Sexon first spotted a city water truck parked on Oak Avenue near Jessie Avenue at 2 a.m. along with a silver Thunderbird.
When the officer turned around to check the area the two vehicles drove westbound on Yosemite Avenue.
The city's white Dodge 2500 water service truck followed the Thunderbird to Union Road where police say the truck continued westbound on Yosemite Avenue and the Thunderbird turned north onto Union Road.
Sexon had closed in on the truck to make sure the driver wasn't a city employee before he activated his lights and siren.
Police said the truck sped toward the Highway 120 Bypass at a speed of 80 miles per hour. Two other Manteca units joined the chase on the 120 Bypass with the pursuit heading into Tracy on 205 and taking the MacArthur Boulevard offramp.
Officers said the vehicle doubled back under the overcrossing and drove back toward Manteca with speeds reaching 95 miles an hour. When the chase reached Lathrop Road CHP officers took over the pursuit and the Manteca officers backed off.
The chase ended in the 2600 block of Mumford Avenue in Stockton where the driver and passenger reportedly jumped out of the truck and ran into an open field.
Manteca canine officer William Mueller sent his dog "Bear" into the field after the suspects and ended up arresting a 17-year-old youth who was taken to San Joaquin County Juvenile Hall. The passenger escaped, police said.
Cutting the fence enclosure in addition to cutting the lock on the facility made entry to the city's corporation yard possible.
Source: Manteca bulletin.com - Glenn Kahl - Reporter - Original article Link
