Walnut Creek Police Arrest Suspected Catalytic Converter Thief

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Walnut Creek Police arrested a man on suspicion of catalytic converter theft after using "stop sticks" to puncture the tires of the fleeing vehicle.

Police were called during the midnight hour on Feb. 12 to a home on Ptarmigan Drive. The theft had just happened.

"Officers on scene learned that a distinct white utility truck had fled the scene after the catalytic converter from a parked Toyota Prius had been cut and stolen," police said in report. "Utilizing a drone, Officers located this utility truck casing other areas of Rossmoor."

The truck sped away when officers tried to stop it. They placed "stop sticks" at the Rossmoor gate, which successfully punctured the truck's tires.

Thedriver finally stopped at Kaiser Hospital off Lilac Dr. near South Main St.

Michael Kuzdal was arrested without incident and transported to county jail. One catalytic converter was recovered.