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Ripon Police help capture car theft suspect
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RIPON — A driver of a stolen car being pursued by the California Highway Patrol during the Tuesday noon hour on northbound Highway 99 made the mistake of cutting through Ripon.

While the CHP started the pursuit in Modesto, Ripon officers brought it to a conclusion.  

After the white sedan exited at the Jack Tone Road off ramp the fleeing motorist had a near miss in colliding head on with a Ripon patrol car by the Taco Bell restaurant before running a red light at the next intersection, police said.

Officer Paul Rourick immediately initiated his pursuit and chased the driver down the Highway 99 Frontage Road at speeds reaching an estimated 90 miles per hour.  The driver of the stolen vehicle reportedly ran off the roadway near Austin Road with the car doing a 360-degree spin where officers took him into custody.

Highway Patrolmen arrived on the scene and took him into custody for the alleged auto theft and for failing to yield to police vehicles in the pursuit.

Ripon police had notified the Manteca Police Department that the pursuit was heading in their direction, but it was over in less than two minutes.