The deputies conducted a traffic stop in the area of Soledad Canyon Road and Crossglade Avenue. When they approached the car, the deputy on the passenger side saw the male passenger was in possession of a handgun and was attempting to hide it. The deputy yelled to his partner and both deputies attempted to detain the two men inside the car. The driver of the suspects’ car then sped away and deputies ran back to their patrol car and immediately initiated a pursuit.
The vehicle pursuit of the suspects lasted approximately two minutes and ended near Foxlane Drive and Basel Street where the car stopped and two men jumped out and began running. Deputies immediately apprehended the driver, George Placeres, MH/27, without incident but the passenger ran into the nearby neighborhood. Dozens of deputies converged on the area and established a containment.
Santa Clarita Deputies immediately called in a Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) K-9 Unit and a helicopter from the Sheriff Department’s AERO Bureau. Using advanced technological tools, the helicopter located the second suspect hiding on the roof of a nearby house. As the deputies, K-9, and search team moved in, the suspect began to running again. The suspect, Judd Vear, MH/22, was eventually surrounded and was taken into custody as he tried to run through several deputies.
Both suspects were cleared for booking at a nearby hospital and were booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. Deputies ultimately discovered the vehicle they were driving, which did not have any license plates on it, was stolen out of the San Fernando Valley.
A thorough search of the area was conducted, but deputies did not locate the gun the passenger had in his possession. A gun detection dog was brought into the area and a second extensive search was conducted for the gun, but it was not located.
Residents should immediately report suspicious vehicles and persons in the area who may be looking to recover the gun. If the gun is located by local area residents the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station should be immediately contacted.
It turns out both these suspects were not strangers to crime. The driver was on felony parole for auto theft and the passenger was on felony parole for drug possession. Each had spent time in state prison. They were booked on felony charges of Taking a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent and Parole Violation. They additionally face potential misdemeanor charges of Evading a Peace Officer and Possession of Burglary Tools. They are being held without bail pending future court proceedings.
Anyone with information regarding this crime is asked to immediately contact the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station at (661) 255-1121. For anonymous tips please call the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff Station’s Crime Tip Line at 661-284-2TIP (2847) or report on-line at www.SCVSheriff.com.
The investigation is ongoing and there is no further information available at this time.
If You See Something, Say Something! Report non-emergency crime anonymously by visiting the following link: Crime Tips or calling (661) 284-2-TIP / (661) 284-2847.
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