Napa Retail Theft Suspects Arrested In American Canyon

AMERICAN CANYON, CA — Two people sought in connection with a grand theft Wednesday from Sunglass Hat at the Napa Outlet Center were taken into custody by American Canyon police.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Wednesday, American Canyon police spotted a vehicle matching the description of one just involved in the grand theft. A woman was driving the silver minivan and officers also saw a man in the car as they watched it head southbound on Highway 29 approaching the American Canyon city limits.

Officers tried to stop the van but the driver failed to yield and a short pursuit ensued southbound on Highway 29 into the city.

Two of the tires were deflated when officers deployed a spike strip but the woman kept going, evading officers, police said. With two of the tires flat, the car's speed was significantly slower.

Following a PIT maneuver — a tactical driving technique used by law enforcement officers to stop fleeing vehicles during a pursuit — the minivan was disabled and stopped on the side of the highway.

The driver, Desirea Raquinan Washington, 44, of Oakland, and the passenger who'd been hiding in the back seat, Kevin Sean Murphy Jr., 47, also of Oakland, were taken into custody, police said.

It is alleged that merchandise taken during the grand theft was found inside the van and that Murphy had burglary tools in her possession.

The duo was booked into the Napa County Department of Corrections on suspicion of charges related to this event, police said.

Washington and Murphy remained in custody Thursday night with their bail set at $10,000 each.

No one was injured during the incident, according to American Canyon police.