Full Notification

Riverbank, CA - 

Deputies with Riverbank Police Services arrested 18-year-old Modesto resident Thomas David Harry earlier this morning for a series of felony and misdemeanor charges after being involved in a domestic violence dispute, residential burglary and fleeing from law enforcement in a high-speed vehicle pursuit.  

On Thursday, Sept., 30, 2021, at about 3:12 a.m., patrol deputies responded to the 5300 block of Cottage Cove Drive in Riverbank on reports of a domestic dispute.  As they arrived at the residence, they made contact with a female who told them she had been the victim of criminal threats, domestic violence, false imprisonment, vandalism and a residential burglary.  The suspect was identified as Thomas Harry, who did not reportedly live with her at the time of this incident. 

Through our investigative efforts, our deputies were able to locate the suspect at a nearby park in Modesto, where they tried to contact him to take a formal statement.  Harry was not cooperative, began yelling at law enforcement, withdrew a knife, lunged at deputies, and further tried to provoke them into an officer involved shooting.  Law enforcement discharged their less-than-lethal beanbag shotgun, striking Harry.  Although the rounds made contact, Harry did not surrender and instead fled the area in his car.  

An approximate five-minute pursuit, which reached speeds in excess of 100-miles-per-hour, ensued throughout the streets of north Modesto and into the outskirts of Riverbank.  Officers with the Modesto Police Department responded to assist by deploying stop sticks near the intersection of Sylvan and Roselle Avenue.  The pursuit intervention technique was able to slow Harry’s vehicle and he was unable to retain control of the vehicle and crashed into a nearby retaining wall.  

Harry fled the area on foot into neighboring yards, where he continued to try and evade law enforcement detection.  With the use of a K9 search team, a tip received from a citizen calling to say an intruder was in their backyard, as well with the assistance of our aerial drone team, Harry was located hiding in a yard in the 3400 block of Vancouver Drive in Modesto.  The suspect did not follow commands to surrender once he was located, so a K9 was deployed toapprehend him.  Harry was bit by the dog resulting in treatment and evaluation at a nearby local area hospital.  

The suspect was soon medically cleared and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center for six felonies and three misdemeanor charges, including domestic violence, burglary, false imprisonment, vandalism, evasion during the vehicle pursuit, obstructing, delaying or resisting a peace officer, threaten a crime with the intent to terrorize, and brandishing a firearm or weapon charges.  All defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  He remains incarcerated in lieu of $211,000 bail.