Suspect Caught After Free Ride

Two Corona Police Department officers were unable to apprehend a fleeing suspect on foot until a local driver offered them a seat in his truck on Oct. 26. The man moved a fan to the rear of his vehicle to make room for the first officer, who asked, “Can you give me a ride?” The driver replied, “yup,” and shortly after, a second officer joined them in the bed of the truck.

The incident began at a shopping center nearby when multiple callers reported an adult male placing his phone under the door of a fitting room. A teenage girl was inside changing at the time. Sgt. Brandon Palaoro, a spokesperson for the department, confirmed the call described the man filming the girl.

Police chased the suspect on foot but could not close the distance quickly enough. As they ran down California Avenue, they flagged down the passing truck. The driver, who requested anonymity, said he was ready to hand over the keys if needed. He stated, “I was getting ready to just give you the car.”

Sgt. Palaoro noted that using a civilian vehicle is not standard protocol. He said, “It’s not something that we train for. It’s not in the handbook, if you will.” He added that the department encourages officers to exercise judgment in the moment. The driver explained his motivation simply: “If you get an opportunity to help an officer, you do it.”

With the added speed and capacity of the truck, the officers caught up to the suspect and handcuffed him. The driver said he would do it again and called the act the right thing to do. The department thanked him for his assistance in the arrest.

Local residents reacted positively to the event. Carmen Hernandez, a Corona resident, said she had never seen such an interaction before but was glad the driver intervened. She praised the man for being helpful.

Sgt. Palaoro described the event as an example of collaborative teamwork within the city. The suspect remained in custody following the arrest on California Avenue.