Modesto woman steals deputy’s vehicle, caught minutes later on Highway 99

A Modesto woman hopped into a deputy’s vehicle Monday night and drove off before authorities pulled her over on Highway 99 near Ceres.

At about 10:30 p.m., a Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department deputy was assisting the Modesto Police Department with traffic control following a traffic collision at Yosemite Boulevard and South Riverside Drive.

The deputy was out of the vehicle, which was left running with the overhead emergency lights on so oncoming traffic would slow, according to Sgt. Anthony Bejaran, spokesman for the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. The vehicle, however, was not locked.

The woman, Rita Dedios, 48, jumped in and drove off toward Mitchell Road. Minutes later, authorities saw the vehicle at Mitchell and Fowler Road in Ceres, about three miles from the accident. Dedios failed to yield to officers and led them on a pursuit.

She headed south to East Whitmore Avenue, then west and got on northbound Highway 99 with the vehicle’s emergency lights on.

Minutes later, she stopped the vehicle and surrendered, Bejaran said.

She was taken into custody and booked into Stanislaus County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft.

No items were taken from the vehicle.

Bejaran said she had no involvement in the accident at Yosemite and Riverside. Officers were trying to get a statement from her late Tuesday night as to why she allegedly stole the vehicle.

We’ll have more on this story as information becomes available.

This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 12:22 AM with the headline "Modesto woman steals deputy’s vehicle, caught minutes later on Highway 99."