Woodland, CA - 25 Yr. Old Drunk Snuck Inside Woodland PD Officer's Car - Steals It and Threatens People

Woodland PD officer's cruiser briefly stolen; suspect arrested
By Democrat staff
Created: 06/21/2009 02:30:25 AM PDT


It was not this officer's day.

At about 2:13 p.m., an unidentified Woodland police officer was dispatched to Elliot Crossing Apartments at 33 W. Elliot St. on a report of a toddler wandering around the complex.


The officer found a public disturbance in progress when she arrived, Woodland Police Sgt. Frank Ritter stated. She exited her patrol vehicle to investigate. As the officer was investigating, Woodland resident German Mendoza Cruz, 25, snuck inside the officer's cruiser and drove off with it.


He didn't get far, Ritter stated. Cruz, after threatening two men near the scene, drove the car about 220 feet before the officer was able to stop him from driving further. Police did not specify the method used.


The officer recovered the vehicle without further incident. Cruz was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance, and was transported to Woodland Memorial Hospital for a routine check-up before being booked at the jail.


Cruz was arrested for vehicle theft, DUI, making criminal threats, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and grand theft of the shotgun and AR-style rifle in the cruiser. Ritter stated Cruz never had access to the weapons, which are kept under lock inside all WPD cruisers.
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