Thursday, 18 October 2007 12:23
Burglar Captured Following High Speed Chase
Amador County law enforcement nabbed one of the bad guys
Wednesday. At about 4:30 Wednesday morning, an Amador County
Sheriff’s Deputy noticed a suspicious pick-up and sedan parked near Prospect
Motors in Martell. One of the vehicles, a Silver Ford F-150 pick-up truck,
quickly sped away from the area. A DMV registration check flagged the pick up
as stolen out of Gilroy, California. With assistance from a second
Amador County Sheriff’s Unit and Jackson Police, the deputy attempted to detain
the stolen vehicle now traveling at high speed west on Highway 88, accelerating
to approximately 90 miles per hour. The pursuit was joined by a California
Highway Patrol unit, an Amador County Sheriff’s Deputy and an Amador County
Sheriff’s Sergeant, continuing east to Highway 12 and into Calaveras County.
East of the town of Wallace, the stolen vehicle left the roadway,
rolled twice, and came to rest on its side in a field. Joseph Jacob Uvalles, 21, of San
Jose was taken into custody at the scene. Uvalles
suffered no visible injuries, but was attended by medical personnel at
the scene. A search of the stolen vehicle revealed burglary tools and stolen
property associated with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in Martell. A check of
Enterprise Rent-A-Car revealed that the suspect or suspects had disabled
electricity and telephones before forcing entry into Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
Amador County Sheriff’s Office is investigating that scene. Upon contacting the
Gilroy Police Department, the Amador County Sheriff’s Office was advised that
the stolen vehicle was connected to an arson that occurred in Gilroy. Law enforcement is still on the lookout for the dark color
sedan seen with the truck in Martell. Uvalles was booked into the Amador
County Jail charged with auto theft, possession of stolen property, evading a
peace officer, and being an unlicensed driver.
Uvalles’ bail has been set at $35,000.00. Investigation into these crimes is open and
on-going.