Stolen Car Stops Above Sheer Drop Into Walnut Creek Canal

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek Police arrested two suspects in a stolen car over the weekend, possibly saving their lives at the same time.

According to police, they were alerted to a car reported stolen by the city's Automated License Plate Reading system. Officers on the graveyard shift found it parked along the southern fence-line of the Ross Store Parking lot.

When approached by officers, police say the driver backed into a patrol car push-bar, and then quickly accelerated toward the fence line.

"The driver, seemingly unaware of the 30-40 foot drop into the canal, attempted to drive through the fence and was caught by the chain link, but continued to accelerate," police report.

To stop the driver from going through the fence, an officer fired a bean bag round at the window of the vehicle. The driver immediately began to comply with commands.

Police say they seized two replica style Airsoft guns that were inside of the vehicle.

The police department's bean bag rifle is orange so that it cannot be confused with a gun that fires bullets.

The driver and a female passenger were arrested on various charges and booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.