The Santa Cruz Police Department (SCPD) has arrested two people and charged them with stealing a vehicle and carrying out a string of commercial burglaries in Santa Cruz in September.
Police say they identified the two suspects, Gerardo Menchaca and Michelle Grieb, both 38, through surveillance video when they responded to a Sept. 28 report of vehicle theft on Riverside Avenue in Santa Cruz.
According to an SCPD media release, officers found the vehicle at about 11:15 p.m. that night. Police claim Menchaca fled the scene and headed towards northbound Highway 17, where the pursuit continued until Menchaca’s vehicle crashed. He left the vehicle and fled on foot, police said, but was promptly caught and arrested. Grieb was injured in the crash, was taken into custody and received treatment at a Santa Clara County hospital.
The release also alleges that Menchaca, Grieb and a third male suspect are tied to a string of commercial burglaries in Santa Cruz that occurred between Sept. 12 and Sept. 27 and that additional charges are expected. Police did not name the third male suspect, but said he is currently in custody in another county on separate charges.
Menchaca was booked on a number of charges, including vehicle theft, evading law enforcement, hit and run resulting in injury, violation of parole, and two counts of burglary. Grieb was booked on charges of possession of stolen property and false checks.
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