Suspected Marin Wine Thief Arrested After Evading Authorities

MILL VALLEY, CA — A suspected wine thief was arrested last week after he initially evaded authorities, the Mill Valley Police Department said.

Officers on Tuesday responded to the report of a shoplifter fleeing a grocery store with stolen wine in a vehicle, police said.

“Following an investigation, 21 bottles of stolen wine were located along with cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, Xanax, and crack cocaine,” police said on the agency’s Facebook page.

“The person responsible was arrested and it was determined he has a long history of committing similar crimes throughout Marin and Mill Valley.”

An officer spotted the vehicle on Shoreline Highway, but the suspect fled after he noticed the officer, police said.

“The driver of the vehicle saw our officer and fled the area at a high rate of speed, while driving into the on-coming lane of traffic” police said.

“The driver got away after the officer chose not to pursue them, however a second officer found the vehicle hidden in a driveway on Tennessee Valley Rd, at a residence they didn’t belong to.”

The incident was the second in a three-day period Mill Valley police encountered involving fentanyl, police said.

“Fortunately, no one has fallen sick and this incident ended with the person being booked into the Marin County Jail in good health,” police said.