Crime & Safety
Peninsula Theft Investigation Ends With Trio of Arrests on Slew of Charges
The arrests came after a vehicle chase and a foot chase through the East Palo Alto area, police said.
MENLO PARK, CA — Police arrested three suspects Tuesday in connection with a string of bicycle thefts in and around Menlo Park, police said.
According to police, a string of recent bicycle thefts have occurred in the Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, and Palo Alto areas. On Monday evening, two bike thefts were recorded on residential surveillance cameras,
and investigators were able to identify the suspects, police said.
On Tuesday, investigators conducted undercover surveillance on one suspect's residence located near Runnymede Street and Clarke avenue in East Palo Alto. As they observed the home, a silver Nissan Frontier matching the description of a vehicle in the surveillance footage approached the house.
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Officers tried to pull over the car, but it drove off and a chase ensued through a residential area, during which the Frontier hit another vehicle, causing minor damage but no injuries, police said.
According to police, two male suspects then fled on foot. Officers detained one suspect near the vehicle and chased the other for three blocks.
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After jumping and damaging several fences and causing damage to windows, the second suspect was detained in the 2100 block of Capitol Avenue.
According to police, the Frontier was reported stolen from San Jose.
One suspect, Jonathan Vega, 25, of East Palo Alto, was booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, reckless evasion, vandalism and resisting arrest.
The other suspect, John Palavi, 53, of East Palo Alto, was cited for resisting arrest and having a suspended drivers license, then was released, police said.
Investigators also identified a 32-year-old woman named Miriam Taimani as the resident of the East Palo Alto home where the stolen vehicle was first spotted.
Officers returned to the home where they found Taimani, who was on probation for threats, hiding in a shed. She was arrested and booked into San Mateo County Jail on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, stolen property, including bikes and mail, and drug indicia, police said.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call Menlo Park police at (650) 330-6300 or an anonymous tip line at (650) 330-6395.
— By Bay City News Service / Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone
