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Sleeping suspect arrested at gun-point in stolen vehicle
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It may have seemed like the end of a bad dream when a transient “motorist” woke up in awe to see officers pointing their guns at him in a stolen car.

Police arrested Angel Joseph Retana, 34, of Manteca, for possession of a stolen car and auto theft, booking him into San Joaquin County Jail in French Camp.

Officers surrounded the teal green 1990 Acura Thursday about 12:30 a.m. in the 600 block of West Alameda after they had run the license plate and found it had been reported stolen.
The windows were fogged with the man’s breathing — reportedly sleeping in the car since 5 p.m. Wednesday night.  It was Ranch Johnson who first pointed his gun through the car window and ordered the suspect out of the car and onto the ground.

Community service officer Charill Jones first spotted the car and called patrol officers for back up.   She had checked  the license plate through her dispatcher and learned it had been stolen a week ago.

The owner of the vehicle lives in Modesto, police said, telling police  it had broken down a week ago near Grant and Alameda streets.

Retana reportedly told officers that he found the car and fixed it so that it would run,  using it for errands and as a place to sleep. Retana was seen by friends parking the car in the 600 block of West Alameda Street Wednesday night in front of an abandoned house where he once lived with friends.  He was told to move it, police said, because he didn’t live there any longer.

He reportedly just drove it across the street and went to sleep at about 5 p.m.  Wednesday night.