Modesto man arrested in theft of mental health employee’s car

A client of a mental health services program was arrested Wednesday after allegedly kicking in the door of the facility and stealing one of the employee’s cars.

The man became angry and argumentative with several of the employees of Josie’s Place in the 1200 block of Ninth Street at about 11:30 a.m., said Modesto Police spokeswoman Heather Graves.

She said they locked the man out of the building but he proceeded kick the glass door.

The employees locked themselves in a room and called police as the suspect broke through the front door.

Before officers arrived, the suspect allegedly took one of the employee’s keys and cell phone and left in her Saturn sport utility vehicle.

While police searched for her car, the suspect called the employee to apologize, Graves said.

A sergeant found the suspect driving the employee’s Saturn in a parking lot at Riverside Drive and Yosemite Boulevard at about 2:20 p.m.

The sergeant pointed his Taser at the suspect and ordered him out of the car and to the ground. The suspect complied, Graves said.

Mikhael Alexander, 24, of Modesto, was arrested on suspicion of auto theft and vandalism.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 5:46 PM with the headline "Modesto man arrested in theft of mental health employee’s car."