Santa Ana : Policemen Cart Away Suspects in Car Theft
Two policemen interrupted their customary patrol of downtown businesses Sunday to chase a stolen Porsche in their electric golf cart.
Richard Yrineo, 43, and Frank Ulibarri, 25, were booked on suspicion of possessing stolen property at the Orange County Jail after Officers Dale Courville and Jeff Owens blocked the sports car with the cart they use to patrol downtown businesses.
The officers had heard a police broadcast that a car matching the description of the Porsche, which was reported stolen earlier Sunday morning from Newport Beach, was in downtown Santa Ana, according to Lt. Robert Chavez.
Courville said Owens spotted the car near 4th and Lacy streets and guessed it would continue north on Lacy. In an effort to head off the Porsche in their cart, which runs at about 10 miles per hour, the officers used an alley to get to the intersection of 5th and Porter streets, where they caught up with the car, Courville said.
“We tried to outsmart them,” he said. “It was rather unusual.”
Yrineo, who was driving the red sports car, and Ulibarri remained in custody Monday.
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