PRESS RELEASE
January 27, 2020
SUBJECT: Stolen Vehicle Recovered After Short Pursuit / ACPD 20-0048
CONTACT: Teresa Johnson, Tel. (209)736-2567 /[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On January 24, 2020 at approximately 8:45 PM, the Angels Camp Police Department responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 400 block of South Main St. The victim reported that he was attempting to sell his vehicle and was out on a test drive with a potential buyer when the potential buyer took off with the vehicle.
The victim told officers that he met with an approximately 45 year old, white male, who identified himself as Todd Gonsalves, in the Angels Towne Center parking lot to look at a vehicle the victim had for sale. The victim and suspect left the parking lot with the victim driving. The suspect asked the victim if he could drive the vehicle and the victim agreed. The victim pulled the vehicle to the shoulder of the road in the 400 block of South Main Street and both parties exited the vehicle. The suspect got in the driver seat and drove away before the victim could get back in the vehicle.
The victim called law enforcement and units from the Angels Camp Police Department, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, and the California Highway Patrol responded to the area. A unit from the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office located the stolen vehicle traveling on Hwy 4 near Murphys and attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect led law enforcement on a short pursuit, and then pulled the vehicle in to a residential driveway off of Hwy 4 just east of Murphys. The suspect jumped through the open passenger side window and fled in to a wooded area on foot. Law Enforcement was unable to locate the suspect after he fled from the vehicle.
The vehicle was returned to the victim in the same condition that it was in when it was stolen.
This is an active investigation and officers are working to identify the suspect. The victim described the suspect as approximately 45 years old, with a shaved head, 5’11” tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds. Suspect was last seen wearing a black beanie, dark colored sweatshirt, and dark colored jeans.
Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is encouraged to contact the Angels Camp Police Department at (209) 736-2567 or [email protected]
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