Delivery Truck Theft Triggers SWAT Standoff

Fremont police arrested a Union City man after he allegedly stole a UPS truck and barricaded himself inside it for hours early Thursday. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Police said officers were called at 1:32 a.m. on April 23, 2026, to reports of a delivery truck being driven erratically in the 5500 block of Cushing Parkway. A short pursuit followed before the truck became disabled on Grimmer Boulevard north of Auto Mall Parkway. (nbcbayarea.com) (sfgate.com) UPS later confirmed the truck had been stolen, and police said they received initial information that the driver might be armed. Fremont officers identified the suspect as Rafael Taniguchi Garcia, 27, of Union City. (ktvu.com) (yahoo.com) The standoff stretched to just before 6 a.m. on Grimmer Boulevard between Auto Mall Parkway and Doane Street, with roads closed as the police Special Response Team surrounded the truck. (ktvu.com) (yahoo.com) Fremont police said negotiators worked for hours before the Special Response Team breached the truck’s rear door. Garcia then surrendered and was taken into custody without force, according to police. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com) Video from the scene showed Garcia crawling out from under the truck before officers detained him. His mother told ABC7 that he was a former UPS worker and had a history of mental health issues. (abc7news.com) Police said Garcia complained of a headache, was taken to a hospital for medical clearance, and was later booked into Santa Rita Jail. The listed charges included unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle, felony reckless evading, and resisting a peace officer. (ktvu.com) (nbcbayarea.com) By Thursday afternoon, the roads had reopened and police reported no injuries. The case closed with the stolen brown UPS truck sitting disabled where the pursuit ended. (nbcbayarea.com) (ktvu.com)