SWAT Standoff After Delivery-Truck Theft

Fremont police arrested a 27-year-old Union City man after he allegedly stole a UPS truck and barricaded himself inside it for hours. (fremontpolice.gov) (nbcbayarea.com) Police said officers were called at about 1:32 a.m. on April 23 to the 5500 block of Cushing Parkway for reports of a delivery truck being driven erratically. A short pursuit ended when the truck became disabled on Grimmer Boulevard north of Auto Mall Parkway. (fremontpolice.gov) (nbcbayarea.com) UPS later confirmed the truck had been stolen, police said. Fremont officers also received initial unconfirmed information that the driver might be armed. (fremontpolice.gov) (nbcbayarea.com) The standoff shut down part of Grimmer Boulevard near the Interstate 880 onramp as the Fremont Police Department’s Special Response Team and negotiators took over. Television footage showed officers surrounding the truck in the roadway with guns drawn. (kron4.com) (abc7news.com) After several hours of negotiations, officers breached the rear door at about 5:45 a.m. Police said Rafael Taniguchi Garcia then surrendered and was safely detained. (fremontpolice.gov) (kron4.com) Garcia was taken to a hospital for medical clearance and then booked into Santa Rita Jail, according to police. Authorities said he was arrested on suspicion of taking a vehicle without consent, reckless evading, and obstructing, resisting or delaying a peace officer. (fremontpolice.gov) (nbcbayarea.com) Police said no force was used during the arrest and no injuries were immediately reported. Fremont officers had not publicly confirmed a motive or whether the suspect was actually armed. (fremontpolice.gov) (abc7news.com) ABC7 reported Garcia’s mother said he is a former UPS worker and has a history of mental health issues. Police have not cited that as a motive in the case. (abc7news.com) The roads later reopened, and the case remains under investigation. The opening scene — an erratic UPS truck call at 1:32 a.m. — ended more than four hours later with a surrender and no reported injuries. (nbcbayarea.com) (fremontpolice.gov)