Watch CBS News

Car Thieves Get Stuck In Petaluma Traffic, Chased Down By Victim

PETALUMA (CBS SF) -- Two would-be car thieves were arrested Friday in Petaluma after they got stuck in traffic in the stolen vehicle, police said.

Officers responded at 12:20 p.m. to the 500 block of D Street to a report of a stolen 2006 Nissan 350Z. Police said one of the thieves, a 17-year-old male from Petaluma, was driving the stolen car when he got stuck in traffic about a block from where the vehicle was taken.

The victim and another person running after the vehicle were able to catch up to it at the intersection of 5th and D streets.

The suspect realized he was stuck in traffic, so he left the vehicle and was chased on foot by the victim and the other person, police said.

The two eventually caught up to the suspect and held him there until police arrived.

Witnesses reported at least two other males were involved in the theft, and police identified one of the suspects as Denikko Dewalt, 19, of Petaluma.

After the suspects abandoned the car, a relative of the victim got in the stolen vehicle, located Dewalt in the area of Sprint and B streets and started filming him.

Police said Dewalt ran toward the vehicle, punched the windshield and threw several rocks at the car. He was subsequently was taken into custody nearby.

The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of felony vehicle theft, and Dewalt was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism, police said.

The 17-year-old also had a juvenile arrest warrant for being an escapee from a juvenile probation camp, police said.

© Copyright 2015 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.