Garden Grove : Car Theft Suspect Had Sporting Streak

A car theft suspect was caught by police Wednesday night after he fled on foot from a stolen car, then tried to blend in with a group of youths playing basketball in a nearby schoolyard, authorities said.

Police Lt. Ken Whitman said officers arrested Jesse Delgado Flores, 34, of Santa Ana after he took off his jacket and shirt and joined a group of youths on a basketball court at Stanford Elementary School, located in the 12700 block of Magnolia Street.

Whitman said Flores and Rico Wiley, 52, of Garden Grove allegedly stole a 1982 Honda Civic from Michael Duncan, 33, of Santa Ana, at about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Duncan had picked up the pair near the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and 17th Street in Garden Grove, he said. When Duncan approached Euclid Street and 17th, Whitman said, Flores allegedly shoved a knife against Duncan’s side and demanded the car. Duncan got out of the vehicle, then called police.

After several minutes, patrol officers saw a car matching the description of the stolen car and began a pursuit at Garden Grove Boulevard and Galway Street, police said. At Magnolia Street and Stanford Avenue, the suspects abandoned the car outside the elementary school and fled on foot, police said.

Officers caught up with Wiley immediately, Whitman said, and Flores was captured a short time later at the basketball court, where he had joined the basketball game.

One of the basketball players told officers that Flores did not belong to the group, Whitman said. A knife and a sawed-off shotgun were later found in the abandoned car.

Flores and Wiley were booked into County Jail on suspicion of armed robbery, grand theft auto and assault with a deadly weapon, Whitman said.