Stolen Car, Drugs Found After Car Chase Through Multiple Bay Area Counties: Police

SAN MATEO, CA — Police found a suspect on July 16, the day after multiple reports said he had stolen a car and other property in San Mateo, police said.

The San Mateo Police Department booked Brian Tapia, 30, of San Leandro in the San Mateo County Jail, police said.

On July 15, officers said they investigated a report of a car theft near a home on the 400 block of N. Idaho Street in San Mateo.

Police said they also received multiple reports that evening involving possibly the same suspect stealing property from other cars in the area.

Tapia's car was located outside San Mateo the following day and after he failed to pull over during a traffic stop he led police on a chase through multiple counties before officers said they stopped him in San Francisco.

After a short foot pursuit, police said they arrested Tapia for vehicle theft, petty theft and multiple drug charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.