Two of six suspects remain at large following a post-midnight police pursuit on Tuesday that involved three area law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol, with a helicopter scouring the area for the men who fled on foot after crashing their U-Haul vehicle behind a home in rural South Manteca.
The four suspects taken into custody, all 18-year-olds from Stockton, were identified by Tracy Police as Amir Brown, Serkiah Galloway, Gregory Brice, and Darious Binder. They were arrested and booked on charges of grand theft, vandalism, and conspiracy.
The two who remain at large, whose names were not made available, were the driver and another suspect.
Stolen rims and tires recovered inside the truck were given back to the victims.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact their law local law enforcement or the Tracy Police at 209.831.6550. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Tracy Crime Stoppers by dialing 209.831.4847 or text TIPTPD to 274637.
The pursuit, which started shortly after midnight on Tuesday in Tracy, continued through unincorporated areas along South Airport Way and on to Manteca. Along the way, Tracy Police were joined by the San Joaquin County Sheriff, Manteca Police, and the California Highway Patrol.
As it reached Manteca, the truck ran through new residential areas south of the 120 Bypass before crashing into a field on the southeast corner of Peach and Oleander avenues just behind a farm house. The driver and a suspect managed to escape, while four others in the back of the truck were arrested and are now behind bars.
Residents around the crash area were able to monitor the proceedings via a live police scanner posted by Joe Snow of Snow News Network on Facebook's Neighborhood Watch for Manteca. Along with the minute-by-minute information were live drone air shots of the pursuit as the truck sped along the narrow streets in the residential areas along Atherton Drive, Woodward Avenue and Peach Avenue. Snow News Network also provided the progress of the helicopter search using area maps where area residents could keep track of the ongoing search.
While the area on the north side of Peach Avenue between Airport Way and Union Road is now part of the incorporated city of Manteca with new residential houses being built, the south side of the road is still open agricultural fields consisting of vineyards, almond orchards, and pastures within unincorporated San Joaquin County.

How the pursuit started

The pursuit started shortly after midnight on Tuesday when a Tracy police officer observed several male suspects running to a waiting U-Haul truck along Walnut Street. As the officer followed the U-Haul, a Toyota Camry wheel and tire fell from the back of the truck along with a landscaping block similar to those used in recent wheel/tire thefts. A pursuit ensued when the officer attempted to stop the truck which drove away instead. The chase continued through rural Tracy, and on to rural Manteca along Airport Way where CHP assumed the pursuit and successfully stopped the U-Haul in Manteca. The four suspects were immediately taken into custody.
The theft of wheels and tires from late model Toyotas and Hondas has been a recent crime trend in Tracy, according to a police release, with residents in several locations throughout the city victimized by thieves who left the vehicles on concrete blocks after removing the tires.
This is actually a widespread crime happening nationwide, added the police report from Tracy, which stated that this along with mail thefts involve the use of rental vehicles — moving-style box trucks, vans and regular cars - by suspects to help conceal their intention.
Tracy Police acknowledged and thanked the CHP for their assistance in the apprehension of the suspects. They also encouraged anyone who observes suspicious activity to contact their local law enforcement or anonymously through their Crime Stoppers.