RIPON – Ripon Police department’s “powered parachute” has helped nail another criminal.
“You guys are everywhere – I had nowhere to run!” a cowering suspect told a Ripon police officer as he eyed the police department’s “Air One” hovering overhead.
Joseph Sherwin Pacheco, Jr., 52, of Manteca was arrested on a $50,000 criminal bench warrant after fleeing from Officer Scott Lindsay at the Jimco Truck Stop on the Highway 99 Frontage Road near Jack Tone Road.
Pacheco was one of three men who were being questioned about recent vehicle thefts at the truck stop at about 11:15 Monday morning when he decided to run from the officer.
Lindsay lost track of the suspect and backup officers arrived on the scene to help in a search of the out buildings around the truck terminal.
Ripon Sergeant Steve Merchant went airborne in the department’s “Air One” powered parachute and spotted the suspect hiding behind a building once known as the laundry drivers used at the truck stop.
Merchant radioed the man’s location to ground units and they made the arrest charging Pacheco with resisting arrest and for providing false information to a police officer.
He was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp on the $50,000 bench warrant.
The powered parachute was provided to the Ripon Police Department – at no cost to the city – by the U.S. Department of Justice Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center. The powered parachute was also credited with aiding in a rescue several weeks ago when rafters were lost on the Stanislaus River south of Ripon. One of the victims, a retired nurse, said she feared hypothermia was setting in when she and a 15-year-old teen were spotted by the low flying craft with Lt. Ed Ormonde at the controls.
“You guys are everywhere – I had nowhere to run!” a cowering suspect told a Ripon police officer as he eyed the police department’s “Air One” hovering overhead.
Joseph Sherwin Pacheco, Jr., 52, of Manteca was arrested on a $50,000 criminal bench warrant after fleeing from Officer Scott Lindsay at the Jimco Truck Stop on the Highway 99 Frontage Road near Jack Tone Road.
Pacheco was one of three men who were being questioned about recent vehicle thefts at the truck stop at about 11:15 Monday morning when he decided to run from the officer.
Lindsay lost track of the suspect and backup officers arrived on the scene to help in a search of the out buildings around the truck terminal.
Ripon Sergeant Steve Merchant went airborne in the department’s “Air One” powered parachute and spotted the suspect hiding behind a building once known as the laundry drivers used at the truck stop.
Merchant radioed the man’s location to ground units and they made the arrest charging Pacheco with resisting arrest and for providing false information to a police officer.
He was booked into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp on the $50,000 bench warrant.
The powered parachute was provided to the Ripon Police Department – at no cost to the city – by the U.S. Department of Justice Rural Law Enforcement Technology Center. The powered parachute was also credited with aiding in a rescue several weeks ago when rafters were lost on the Stanislaus River south of Ripon. One of the victims, a retired nurse, said she feared hypothermia was setting in when she and a 15-year-old teen were spotted by the low flying craft with Lt. Ed Ormonde at the controls.
