Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man seen breaking into a
parishioner’s car at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church Sunday
afternoon, but not before being led on a lengthy high-speed chase
through downtown Hollister and shooting the man’s pit bull,
according to police.
Hollister – Sheriff’s deputies arrested a man seen breaking into a parishioner’s car at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church Sunday afternoon, but not before being led on a lengthy high-speed chase through downtown Hollister and shooting the man’s pit bull, according to police.
Over the past month, police have noticed an increase in car burglaries at the Catholic church on Fairview Road, according to San Benito County Sheriff’s Detective Sgt. Chris Green. While conducting surveillance on the area due to the rash of thefts, a deputy saw Hollister resident Juan Manuel Gonzales, 24, shatter the window of a vehicle parked at the church, take several items from the car and take off in a black Lincoln Navigator around 1pm, Green said.
The deputy called for backup, and two deputies pulled Gonzales over on Fairview Road, Green said. After ordering Gonzales out of the car, the deputies told him to put his hands over his head and Gonzales insisted he didn’t do anything wrong. Before being able to take him into custody, though, Gonzales hopped back into the car and took off, leading deputies on a chase through both residential and commercial areas that reached speeds up to 80 mph, Green said.
“He took us on this hellacious pursuit through Hollister,” Green said. “It was long – most pursuits are pretty quick, and this was in downtown Hollister.”
After speeding through city streets, Gonzales drove back to his house located at 64 Hawkins Street, ran into his backyard and attempted to escape on foot by jumping over fences, Green said.
Deputies followed him into the backyard, and while pursuing him, the man’s pit bull charged one of the deputies and the deputy fired one shot at the dog, hitting it in the paw, Green said. Green said the injury was enough to thwart the dog’s attack, but Animal Control employees picked up the dog and it is recovering satisfactorily after receiving medical care.
Although Gonzales’ dog slowed deputies slightly, it didn’t stop them and they caught Gonzales in his backyard, Green said. He was booked into the San Benito County Jail without bail for felony vandalism, burglary, and probation violation, along with a misdemeanor charge for being under the influence of a controlled substance and evading police, according to jail personnel.
Sheriff Curtis Hill was pleased to have one of the people responsible for the thefts at St. Benedict’s behind bars.
“Maybe if the courts don’t take care of the thefts and the grief he caused, a higher authority will,” he said.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or em*******@fr***********.com.
