Delivery Truck Thief Sparks SWAT Standoff

A 27-year-old Union City man surrendered after allegedly stealing a UPS truck and barricading himself inside it during a four-hour Fremont police standoff on April 23. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Fremont officers were called at 1:32 a.m. to the 5500 block of Cushing Parkway after reports that a delivery truck was being driven erratically. Police said a short pursuit followed before the truck became disabled on Grimmer Boulevard north of Auto Mall Parkway. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Police then contacted UPS and confirmed the truck had been stolen. Officers also received initial, unconfirmed information that the driver might be armed, and Fremont’s Special Response Team was called in. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) The truck stopped along Grimmer Boulevard between Auto Mall Parkway and Doane Street, near a Star One gas station, and the standoff ended just before 6 a.m. Sgt. Cooper Mauldin said the suspect stayed barricaded in the vehicle for several hours. (ktvu.com) NBC Bay Area reported police breached the rear door after hours of negotiations and took Rafael Taniguchi Garcia into custody. KTVU reported Garcia eventually climbed out and surrendered, and both outlets said no force was used. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Garcia complained of a headache after the arrest and was taken to a hospital for medical clearance. Police later booked him into Santa Rita Jail on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, felony reckless evading, and obstructing, resisting or delaying a peace officer. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Police said no injuries were immediately reported, and the stolen UPS truck was recovered. By Thursday afternoon, roads in the area had reopened and the standoff was over. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com)