Modesto Police sergeant suffers minor injury subduing snatch-and-grab suspect

Modesto police apprehended a snatch-and-grab theft suspect who fled and then put up a fight with authorities Saturday morning.

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday officers responded to a theft call at Downey Avenue and I Street just off of downtown Modesto. The victim told police someone had stolen a personal item from her and taken off, said Modesto Police Lt. Tom Ciccarelli. Officers spotted the suspect, who they also recognized as a person of interest in other recent thefts. The suspect then fled and officers gave chase. When they caught up with him he allegedly began fighting with the officers, Ciccarelli said.

A Modesto Police sergeant was injured during the struggle and then another officer used his Taser to subdue the suspect, Ciccarelli said. The man, 29-year-old Modesto resident Joseph Reid, was taken into custody and booked for multiple charges including theft, resisting arrest and assault on a peace officer.

The sergeant was treated on scene for an injury to his hand, but did not require hospitalization.

This story was originally published October 21, 2017 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Modesto Police sergeant suffers minor injury subduing snatch-and-grab suspect."