Delivery Truck Thief Sparks SWAT Standoff

Fremont police arrested a man after he allegedly stole a UPS truck before dawn on April 23 and barricaded himself inside for hours. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com) Police said officers were called at about 1:32 a.m. to the 5500 block of Cushing Parkway for reports of a delivery truck being driven erratically. They pursued the truck until it became disabled on Grimmer Boulevard north of Auto Mall Parkway. (ktvu.com) (sfgate.com) Police said they confirmed with UPS that the truck had been stolen, and early unconfirmed information suggested the driver might be armed. The truck stopped near a Star One gas station, where officers surrounded it with guns drawn. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com) The suspect was identified as Rafael Taniguchi Garcia, 27, of Union City. Fremont police said their Special Response Team and negotiators responded while Grimmer Boulevard remained shut near the Interstate 880 onramp. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com) The standoff ended just before 6 a.m. KTVU reported Garcia climbed out and surrendered, while KRON4 reported officers breached the rear door of the truck around 5:45 a.m. before the arrest. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com) Police said no force was used during the arrest. Garcia was taken to a hospital after complaining of a headache, then medically cleared and booked into Santa Rita Jail. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com) The booked charges included unlawful taking or driving of a vehicle, felony reckless evading, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer. Fremont police have not posted a separate press release about the case on their public news page. (ktvu.com) (fremontpolice.gov) ABC7 reported Garcia’s mother said he is a former UPS worker and has a history of mental health issues. Police have not publicly tied those claims to a motive in the theft. (abc7news.com) By sunrise, the stolen brown truck that had turned Grimmer Boulevard into a SWAT scene was empty, and the case had shifted to booking and charges. (ktvu.com) (kron4.com)