Suspect in Stolen Van Chase From Sonoma to Marin Tasered, Arrested in Novato

NOVATO, CA — Using information from a tracking device and pooling their resources, law enforcement took a parolee suspected of stealing a van into custody Wednesday night in Novato.

California Highway Patrol Marin Area Spokesman Andrew Barclay said Thursday that the two-county pursuit began at about 7:20 p.m. when Marin CHP officers received a call that a work van registered to UltraEx courier services had been stolen from the Sonoma County city of Santa Rosa and was heading toward Marin County on US-101.

"The vehicle, a 2007 Ford E150 van ... was being tracked by an @Road onboard vehicle tracking device used to monitor drivers throughout their work day deliveries," Barclay said. "Using the tracking device, a representative from UltraEx was able to provide updated locations and speed to law enforcement officials who began responding to the area to locate the vehicle."

As the van entered Novato, personnel with the CHP, Novato Police Department and Sonoma County Sheriff's Department were on the lookout for it. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, Henry-1, located the van after it exited at Nave Drive and parked in the area of Bolling Drive at Captain Nurse Circle.

The helicopter crew witnessed the driver the of van — later identified as 37-year-old Walter Harvey III, a parolee from Alameda County — getting out of the vehicle and walking back toward US-101. Henry-1, along with CHP helicopter H-32, provided updated information to ground units who were now in the area, according to Barclay.

"A two-officer CHP unit located Harvey, now riding a bicycle, and gave him commands to stop and surrender," Barclay said. "Harvey proceeded to throw the bicycle to the ground and began running from officers who pursued him on foot as he ran along Nave Drive toward US-101."

The officers got close enough use their Taser device on Harvey to subdue him and take him into custody. Barclay said Harvey was then taken to a local hospital for medical clearance, which is customary when a subject is Tasered.

Upon his release from the hospital, Harvey was taken to Marin County Jail, where Barclay said it was learned that Harvey had given false identification information to officers when he was initially taken into custody.

Harvey was booked into jail on suspicion of grand theft auto, possession of stolen property, resisting arrest, violation of parole and providing false ID to police.

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