Who’s a good deputy? Stanislaus Sheriff K-9 officer apprehends wanted fugitive
A Ceres man wanted for a series of home burglaries and vehicle thefts was apprehended by a Stanislaus Sheriff’s K-9 officer after eluding deputies for months.
Brandon Loyd, 33 of Ceres, was arrested and taken into custody at 4:40 p.m. Friday after a traffic stop on Hills Ferry Road outside of Newman. Deputies believe Loyd is responsible for a crime spree of burglarized homes and stolen vehicles in Stanislaus County, according to a press release from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.
Patterson Police Services detectives first identified Loyd as the suspect in a residential burglary where firearms were stolen in December 2018. Then in January of this year Stanislaus Sheriff’s detectives identified him as the suspect in another residential burglary, this time in south Modesto, where firearms were also stolen from a home. Security camera footage showed Loyd allegedly arriving to the home in a stolen vehicle.
Authorities searched for Loyd throughout the county and in Merced County, narrowly missing out on apprehending him at various locations, according to the press release. While on the run, he was identified as a suspect in several more burglaries and vehicle thefts. Detectives believed Loyd to be armed, and he allegedly told friends and family that he would not go back to jail and instead commit “suicide by cop.”
A wanted notice for Loyd was posted on the Stanislaus Sheriff’s Department Facebook page in late February, warning he was considered armed and dangerous. Tips began to come in afterward, and on Friday detectives were told Loyd would be at the 13000 Block of Carpenter Road.
Undercover detectives in unmarked vehicles staked out the area and spotted Loyd as the passenger in a car. Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department helicopter unit were called to assist as the unmarked vehicle followed Loyd.
Then Stanislaus Sheriff Deputy Nathan Crain and his K9 partner Colt pulled in behind the suspect vehicle to make the stop at Hills Ferry Road just west of River Road on the outskirts of Newman. Video footage from the sheriff’s helicopter shows the suspect car slowing to a stop and Lloyd jumping out and attempting to run away.
Colt apprehended Loyd as he ran into a ditch off the road, where he was taken into custody. Loyd was first transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a bite wound sustained during his arrest. He was then taken to jail where he was booked for three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of auto theft and two counts of possessing a stolen vehicle.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding any of these cases is asked to call Detective Wilson at 209-525-7022.
