Two Stockton men sauntered out of the Manteca courthouse Tuesday morning and walked diagonally across the street to where they had parked a car that allegedly had been stolen in Stockton on Dec. 23.
They appeared to be without a care as they got into the white 2007 Suzuki Forenza sedan. Jesse Benites, 42, got behind the wheel and Corey Doucette, 24, jumped into the passenger side of the front seat.
As Benites turned the key in the ignition, a Manteca Police car with lights flashing drove westbound – literally out of nowhere – through the Lincoln Avenue intersection and onto the wrong side of the street coming to a stop against the suspects’ front bumper – locking in the car.
As officer John Moody jumped out of his cruiser with his gun drawn, a white auto theft task force detective unit pulled in behind the stolen car with officers pulling the driver out from behind the wheel at gunpoint.
Moody had the younger suspect, Corey Doucette, face down on the sidewalk within seconds and was putting handcuffs on him as detectives were taking the driver in to custody and beginning their pat down search.
Doucette had just appeared before a judge in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court where he was granted an extension to being free on his own recognizance. He had been charged with a commercial burglary at the Costco Store in Tracy.
Both men were charged Tuesday with auto theft and for being in possession of a stolen vehicle. Doucette was charged additionally with allegedly committing a felony while on his own recognizance that had been granted by the court.
Officers said that because Doucette didn’t have a license, Benites had agreed to drive him to the Manteca court for his scheduled appearance. They said the Suzuki had been stolen from a car lube facility in Stockton with the keys left with the vehicle and saying both men allegedly had involvement in the theft.
The two suspects were taken to San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp. Doucette’s bail was set at $30,375 with a court date set in Stockton for Thursday. Benites, with an alias of John Hammon, has a bail amount of $25,375 and is set to appear in the Stockton Court on Thursday as well. Both will go before the judge at 1:30 p.m.
They appeared to be without a care as they got into the white 2007 Suzuki Forenza sedan. Jesse Benites, 42, got behind the wheel and Corey Doucette, 24, jumped into the passenger side of the front seat.
As Benites turned the key in the ignition, a Manteca Police car with lights flashing drove westbound – literally out of nowhere – through the Lincoln Avenue intersection and onto the wrong side of the street coming to a stop against the suspects’ front bumper – locking in the car.
As officer John Moody jumped out of his cruiser with his gun drawn, a white auto theft task force detective unit pulled in behind the stolen car with officers pulling the driver out from behind the wheel at gunpoint.
Moody had the younger suspect, Corey Doucette, face down on the sidewalk within seconds and was putting handcuffs on him as detectives were taking the driver in to custody and beginning their pat down search.
Doucette had just appeared before a judge in the Manteca Branch of the San Joaquin County Superior Court where he was granted an extension to being free on his own recognizance. He had been charged with a commercial burglary at the Costco Store in Tracy.
Both men were charged Tuesday with auto theft and for being in possession of a stolen vehicle. Doucette was charged additionally with allegedly committing a felony while on his own recognizance that had been granted by the court.
Officers said that because Doucette didn’t have a license, Benites had agreed to drive him to the Manteca court for his scheduled appearance. They said the Suzuki had been stolen from a car lube facility in Stockton with the keys left with the vehicle and saying both men allegedly had involvement in the theft.
The two suspects were taken to San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp. Doucette’s bail was set at $30,375 with a court date set in Stockton for Thursday. Benites, with an alias of John Hammon, has a bail amount of $25,375 and is set to appear in the Stockton Court on Thursday as well. Both will go before the judge at 1:30 p.m.
