An officer called
Thursday to investigate a convenience store burglary
left his patrol car running, and authorities accused the
suspect of taking the vehicle for a short ride,
authorities said.
Bond for Eric Jonathan Galvan, 19, of Galveston, was set at $30,000 on charges of burglary, unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest, authorities said.
Two Galveston police officers responded to a security alarm about 1:30 a.m. at Valero, 3825 Broadway, and began to look for signs of forced entry, Sgt. Mark Pilsner said.
“They did a check of the store and found the front glass door had been shattered,” Pilsner said. “As they searched it, the guy ran up behind the car, jumped in and took off.”
The officers didn’t see where the suspect emerged, but one watched him run up and enter the car, Pilsner said.
“There was a short foot pursuit of the car,” Pilsner said. “One was on the radio calling it out, and they were on top of it pretty quick.”
Police found the patrol car abandoned in the 4400 block of North Live Oak Circle. Officers arrested a man nearby at 43rd and Sealy streets, Pilsner said.
“He made the statement to one of the officers out there: ‘Those police cars are fast,’” Pilsner said.
Department policy requires officers to turn their cars off if they’re leaving them at a scene, Pilsner said.
“In the heat of the moment, things happen,” Pilsner said.
The storekeeper reported four packs of Kool menthol cigarettes and a bottle of Gatorade stolen, according to a police report.
Bond for Eric Jonathan Galvan, 19, of Galveston, was set at $30,000 on charges of burglary, unauthorized use of a vehicle and evading arrest, authorities said.
Two Galveston police officers responded to a security alarm about 1:30 a.m. at Valero, 3825 Broadway, and began to look for signs of forced entry, Sgt. Mark Pilsner said.
“They did a check of the store and found the front glass door had been shattered,” Pilsner said. “As they searched it, the guy ran up behind the car, jumped in and took off.”
The officers didn’t see where the suspect emerged, but one watched him run up and enter the car, Pilsner said.
“There was a short foot pursuit of the car,” Pilsner said. “One was on the radio calling it out, and they were on top of it pretty quick.”
Police found the patrol car abandoned in the 4400 block of North Live Oak Circle. Officers arrested a man nearby at 43rd and Sealy streets, Pilsner said.
“He made the statement to one of the officers out there: ‘Those police cars are fast,’” Pilsner said.
Department policy requires officers to turn their cars off if they’re leaving them at a scene, Pilsner said.
“In the heat of the moment, things happen,” Pilsner said.
The storekeeper reported four packs of Kool menthol cigarettes and a bottle of Gatorade stolen, according to a police report.