Bread Delivery Truck Pursuit Ends With RivCo Police Standoff

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — A man allegedly stole a delivery truck in downtown Riverside Wednesday and led police on a pursuit to Corona and back before stopping and locking himself inside the truck for about two hours before surrendering.

The theft occurred shortly after 9 a.m. at Riverside Community Hospital and was immediately reported to Riverside police, Officer Ryan Railsback said.

He told City News Service that the suspect, whose name was not released, jumped into a bread delivery truck while the driver was making a service call. He then headed toward west Riverside, where he was spotted 10 minutes later by a patrol unit that signaled him to stop, according to Railsback.

"He took off and got on the 91 freeway," Railsback said. "I think he went over to McKinley Street (in Corona), then came back to the city (of Riverside)."

Multiple patrol cars tailed the man on rain-slick streets, until he ultimately turned northbound onto Van Buren Boulevard.

According to Railsback, the suspect abruptly stopped about 10:30 a.m. in a traffic lane between Challen and Wells avenues, at which point he was surrounded by officers. Van Buren was closed to traffic at the location as SWAT members and crisis negotiators attempted to make contact with the man, who refused to exit the truck, Railsback said.

About 1 p.m., the suspect got out of the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident, the officer said.

No one was injured.

— By City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone