Burglary Suspect Arrested; Lockdown Lifted At Mill Valley Schools

MILL VALLEY, CA — Authorities arrested a man Wednesday in connected with a vehicle burglary that prompted a police pursuit and neighborhood search and placed four schools on lockdown in Mill Valley.

Police received a report around 7:45 a.m. about a theft from a vehicle on Eldridge Avenue. The victim attempted to confront the suspect who had been inside their vehicle, according to the Mill Valley Police Department. The suspect fled the area in a silver sedan with distinguishable markings.

Police responded to the area and found the vehicle on E. Blithedale Avenue. When officers attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver failed to yield and crashed with multiple other vehicles on E. Blithedale Avenue at Camino Alto, police said. Officers followed the suspect to the 100 block of Shell Road, where the driver left the vehicle and fled on foot.

Mill Valley Police, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, Marin County Sheriff's Office, San Rafael Police and Tiburon Police, searched the area and placed Edna Maguire Elementary School, Terra Marin School, Marin Day School and Mill Valley Nursery School on lockdown.

A CHP helicopter searched the area and found the suspect hiding in a residential backyard. Police arrested the man, later identified as Francisco Capuchino, 29, of Oakland, without further incident. Police later determined the vehicle he had been driving was reported stolen from Fremont.

Capuchino was booked into Marin County Jail on multiple charges, including driving without a license, driving under the influence of drugs, hit and run, evading a police officer, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of controlled substances, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen vehicle, and theft from a vehicle.

The incident remains under investigation. Police asked anyone with any information to call 415-389-4100.

Original story:

MILL VALLEY, CA — Two Mill Valley schools were placed on lockdown Wednesday morning while police searched for a burglary suspect in the area.

Edna Maguire Elementary School and Terra Marin School were on lockdown while police searched the area of Shell Road and Lomita Drive, according to the Mill Valley Police Department. The suspect was eventually arrested and the lockdowns were lifted.

Edna Maguire students were instructed to not go to school while the campus was on lockdown, according to the Mill Valley School District. All other schools started at their regular time.