On July 6, 2015 at approximately 8:40 a.m., Officer Todd Pricolo was on patrol traveling westbound on Cardoza Road near the intersection of West I Street. A Green Honda Accord traveling in the same direction caught Officer Pricolo’s eye, because the same type of vehicle had been reported stolen only hours before.
Officer Pricolo confirmed the vehicle was stolen by the vehicle’s license plate number. Officer Pricolo made a high risk enforcement stop on the vehicle and detained the driver, Jesus Ayala Gil, 25 of Gilroy.
Jesus Ayala Gil was arrested and charged with vehicle theft, possession of a control substance, and driving without a license. Gil remains in custody at the Merced County Jail in lieu of $50,103.00 bail.
“Officer Todd Pricolo has an eye for spotting stolen vehicles and he’s well known in the department for this talent. Officer Pricolo has earned his 10th CHP 10851 award, which is quite an accomplishment. To put that into perspective, each award requires six separate stolen vehicle in-custody arrests, or the recovery of a total of 12 stolen vehicles of which a minimum of three must be in-custody arrest in a one year period.”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
To leave an anonymous crime tip call (209) 827-7070 ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet, you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page, simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or contact the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1(855) 725-2420 or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org.
