Manteca, CA Police car stolen, crashed, subject still at large, $1,000 reward for information
1/04/05 - Brazen start to 2005 auto thefts – Manteca, CA
The Manteca Police Department is among the first victims of vehicle theft in 2005.
In trying to run from the cops, John Tacilauskas, 26, stole a police car after having a scuffle with a woman. Then he crashed the police car and fled.
He is wanted by the Manteca Police for felony domestic violence and felony auto theft.
He is a white male, 5-foot 6-inches, 135 pounds, hair brown, eyes brown. Tacilauskas crashed near the corner of Alameda Street and Fremont Avenue.
He then bolted from the car and was last seen heading northwest of the single-vehicle accident.
The police cruiser was stolen in front of a residence on Stewart Street, which is south of Alameda Street, off of Fremont Avenue, as two officers -- Richard Smigelski and Field Training Officer Wayne Miller -- were checking on a domestic violence call.
The victim -- police did not release her name -- was taken by ambulance to a Manteca hospital and underwent surgery for her injuries.
Her status was unknown at press time.
No one else was injured.
Tacilauskas was the suspect in the domestic violence case, and as the police officers were arriving to the scene, they saw Tacilauskas running away. They got out of the police car and took off after him, leaving the car running.
Tacilauskas made a giant loop, jumping over fences, and got back to the police car before the officers did. That is when he got in to the vehicle and sped away.
Tacilauskas didn't get far in the police car. In fact, he only went north on Fremont before spinning out and crashing between two trees in the front yard of a residence.
Heading north, near the T-junction of Fremont and Alameda, Fremont curves slightly to the left. Officers at the scene said that the crash happened when Tacilauskas lost control of the car on one of that curve. Tacilauskas hit a tree, which spun the car 180 degrees, parallel with the street but facing south instead of north. The suspect then went through a fence and hit the back end of the car against a second tree, blowing out the rear window in the process. He then tried to move forward and hit the first tree again, which stopped the engine and deployed the airbag.
He fled from the scene.
Last month, during the Manteca City Council meeting, Police Chief Charlie Halford proposed a $50 parking fine for people whose cars are stolen because they leave their keys in the ignition or the engine running.
The council unanimously rejected the proposal with Council Steve DeBrum stating, "I'm not sure it is our responsibility to regulate stupidity."
He said that Monday's events and what he talked about during the city council meeting are two different things.
"An officer running after a bad guy is a little different than someone whose car is warming up and gets a cup of coffee," Halford said.
Manteca Police Captain Dave Bricker said that the police department is very embarrassed that the police car was stolen and said that a review of the department's policy is going to take place.
Manteca Police have policies regarding turning off police cars. Sometimes, for instance when there is a dog in the car, police will never turn off their car for the safety of the animal. During a traffic stop, turning off the vehicle is up to the officer's discretion. However, with as much electronic equipment on police cars -- with computers, emergency lights, radios, etc. -- it is necessary to leave the vehicle running during working hours, otherwise the car goes dead.
Even with the engine on, it still takes two car batteries to power the equipment inside a police car.
Ordinary cars do not have the kinds of electronics that police cars have.
Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of Tacilauskas is urged to call anonymously the South County Crime Stoppers at 823-4636. There is a reward of up to $1000 for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspects.
By Carl Johanson