Car Theft Suspect Crashes In Front Of San Rafael High School

SAN RAFAEL, CA — A Novato man was arrested Tuesday after police said he fled in a stolen vehicle and crashed in front of San Rafael High School.

According to the San Rafael Police Department, an officer spotted the vehicle speeding through a red light shortly before noon at Grand Avenue and Second Street. The officer attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle continued on through a second red light.

Police said the driver continued north on Grand Avenue, then east onto Mission Avenue, reaching dangerous speeds and causing the officer to pull back on the pursuit. The vehicle sped along Mission Avenue until the driver lost control and crashed into concrete bollards outside the high school. Police said the vehicle narrowly missed colliding with the school gym.

Witnesses reported two suspects running from the call and helped provide a location for officers to search. A few minutes later, officers found the suspected driver hiding in a backyard.

Police identified the suspect as Albin Aldolfo Mendez-Mazariegos, 22, of Novato. Investigators did not locate the second suspect.

The investigation revealed the vehicle that crashed had been reported stolen by the Central Marin Police Authority, and police said Mendez-Mazariegos was a suspect in a stolen vehicle case in Novato. Police booked the man into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading an officer "with wanton disregard for public safety," felony violation of probation, and misdemeanor driving a vehicle without a license.