Riverbank car chase ends in arrest of Manteca man

A suspected car thief from Manteca was arrested after leading officers on a pursuit, then jumping head first into a canal.

The Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force, with the help of the Modesto police, located a stolen Dodge Stealth in the parking lot of Galaxy Theatres on Patterson Road on Monday. The car had been taken from the Sonora area about a week ago, according to StanCATT.

When three people got into the Dodge, officers attempted to pull it over but the driver took off through traffic on Patterson Road and eventually turned south on Coffee Road.

Stanislaus County sheriff’s deputies joined the chase when the driver turned east into an orchard, coming out on Morrill Road.

The vehicle continued east and proceeded back into Riverbank, failing to stop for red lights and stop signs, according to StanCATT.

Eventually, the vehicle turned north on Jackson Avenue from Morrill and began to slow. The driver jumped from the vehicle while it was moving and allowed it to coast farther down the road.

He ran to a nearby canal, dove in and swam to the other side, where a StanCATT officer was waiting. The passengers were detained at the car.

Justin Yarbrough, 40, was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, possession of a stolen automobile, felony evading, resisting arrest and probation violation.

This story was originally published May 5, 2015 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Riverbank car chase ends in arrest of Manteca man."