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Local - Crime & Courts

Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009

Police track down suspect from sky

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Ripon police's powered parachute aircraft on Monday helped officers find and arrest a wanted Manteca man who ran from police near the Jimco Truck Stop, a department spokesman said Thursday.

Joseph Pacheco, 52, had an arrest warrant on suspicion of driving under the influence when he ran from officers, said Ripon police Lt. Ed Ormonde. When officers caught up to him, Pacheco was arrested on suspicion of providing false information to police and resisting arrest.

The incident began about 11:20 a.m. when an officer was conducting a security check because of recent vehicle thefts in the area near the truck stop at 1022 E. Frontage Road in Ripon.

The officer made contact with three suspicious people standing near a vehicle with an expired registration tag. Pacheco ran when the officer discovered he had a warrant, Ormonde said.

Police Sgt. Steve Merchant, the aircraft's pilot, arrived at the scene and directed officers to Pacheco, who was hiding behind a building.