08/27/15 Douglas, AZ – Man Taken At Gun Point Stealing A Douglas Police Undercover Pick Up In Front Of The Detective’s Home – Suspect Had A Key – Engine Running

August 27, 2015

douglasdispatch.com

A Tucson man is in custody at the Cochise County Jail on a $30,000 cash bond following his arrest Tuesday afternoon for the attempted auto theft of an unmarked Douglas Police vehicle.

According to officials with the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office, who are handling the investigation, shortly before 4 p.m. the DPD detective, who is not being identified at this time, removed Richard Rivera, 35, at gun point from the truck, a 2008 purple, Chevy Silverado after he attempted to leave with the vehicle from in front of the detectives home.

Witnesses at the scene told the Douglas Dispatch the man showed up to the residence in a taxi, got out and stuck a key into the door, opened it and started the ignition when the detective ran out of his home with his weapon drawn and removed Rivera from the vehicle.

The vehicle was reportedly seized from a man identified as Roberto Ramirez in 2014 and was being used by the Douglas Police Department as one of their unmarked police vehicles.

Rivera reportedly had an extra set of keys and later told CCSO detectives he believed he was picking up the truck for Ramirez from what he thought was a mechanics home and that he was offered $300 for bringing the truck back to him in Agua Prieta.

Rivera has been charged with theft of means of transportation, a class three felony.

The investigation is being conducted by the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office with the final report being submitted to the Cochise County Attorneys Office for review upon completion.