Driver Arrested in Tanker Truck Theft
California Highway Patrol officers arrested a Rancho Cucamonga man Tuesday morning on suspicion of stealing a tanker truck in Las Vegas.
Reginald Jones, 33, already had an outstanding warrant for grand theft auto when he was arrested, officials said.
The driver, northbound on the Ventura Freeway about 5 a.m., passed the CHP truck scales at the top of the Conejo grade, CHP Officer Dave Cockrill said.
“It’s what we call a buzz-by,” Cockrill said. “It doesn’t happen too often.”
Officers pulled over the truck near Camarillo Springs. Jones agreed to turn around and bring the truck back up the grade, Cockrill said.
Once at the scales, Jones allegedly jumped out of the passenger side of the truck and tried to run. After he was caught and arrested, officers discovered that the truck and empty fuel tanker belonged to Coal Transport and were stolen from a yard in Las Vegas, Cockrill said.
Jones was booked into Ventura County Jail on suspicion of grand theft and possessing stolen property. Because he had a $230,000 warrant for his arrest for a previous vehicle theft, he is being held without bail.
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