San Ramon Police arrested a Hollister man asleep in a stolen
truck Thursday after a strange theft on Highway 25 last week.
Alejandro Valencia Langoria, 19, of Hollister, was taken into
custody by police when he was found 67 miles northeast of San
Benito County in a stolen 1998 maroon-colored Ford F-150 parked
outside a San Ramon restaurant. He was booked for vehicle theft and
taken to the Martinez Detention Facility in Contra Costa
County.
San Ramon Police arrested a Hollister man asleep in a stolen truck Thursday after a strange theft on Highway 25 last week.
Alejandro Valencia Langoria, 19, of Hollister, was taken into custody by police when he was found 67 miles northeast of San Benito County in a stolen 1998 maroon-colored Ford F-150 parked outside a San Ramon restaurant. He was booked for vehicle theft and taken to the Martinez Detention Facility in Contra Costa County.
The California Highway Patrol reported that the vehicle was unoccupied when it was recovered.
Officer J. Schultz of San Ramon was on patrol early Thursday when he came across the truck in the back corner of a Mudd’s Restaurant parking lot, he said. He ran the license plates on the vehicle and discovered the truck had been reported stolen outside of Hollister.
The truck was taken from Morgan Hill resident Mark Smith, who pulled over to help Langoria Wednesday when Langoria’s Toyota Camry wagon – which he says belonged to his mother – was involved a roll-over accident. Langoria, who was driving on the road’s shoulder, left the roadway when trying to avoid a muffler that fell off the car in front of him. Langoria then crawled out of his overturned car and drove off with Smith’s vehicle, according to Langoria’s statement to police.
When Schultz discovered Langoria sleeping inside the truck, he drew his gun and kicked the door to wake up the suspect, who put his hands up and stepped out of the vehicle.
When Schultz asked if the truck was his, Langoria replied that he hears spirits through music.
Langoria did not have any identification but did have a duffle bag containing CDs and a pair of shoes. He also was found to have a warrant out in San Jose.
Langoria told police that he had stolen the truck, but it was not his physical self doing it. He said spirits made him steal the vehicle.
For Mark Smith, who was driving brother-in-law Larry Vinecke’s truck Wednesday, there was a quick end to the strange affair and much relief.
“We’re very happy to be getting it back,” he said.
Vinecke, of San Martin, traveled to San Ramon Thursday evening to pick up items from the truck, but he can’t get the vehicle back until the insurance company does an investigation.
Smith said he wasn’t sure what, if anything, was missing from the truck or its condition, but he was told by police that a commercial lawn mower that was in the truck bed had been removed. Smith used the mower, worth $1,000, for his job as a landscaper. He hoped insurance would cover the loss.
Smith said the odd events leading up to the theft of the truck started with Langoria rolling off the side of the road.
“I asked if he was all right and if anyone else was in the car,” he said. “He never answered. He was cussing and was angry. I though he was going to pull a gun out (when he reached back into the car) to shoot the people that caused (the accident).”
Instead, Langoria pulled out the duffel bag and started up the embankment. Smith began to follow him, but was asked by another witness of the accident if there was anyone else in the car. Smith turned back to tell the person no, and when he looked back, Langoria had jumped into his still-running truck and pulled away, Smith said.
Smith and another witness tried to follow the truck and called 911 from the witness’ cell phone but gave up the chase.
“This is the first time I’ve ever stopped to help at an accident. No one’s ever rolled over in front of me before,” Smith said. “I never thought that he’d be stealing my truck. I thought I’d be pulling him out and checking him for bleeding.”
Smith said that while he’s thankful no one was hurt, if he had to do it all again, he’d still stop to make sure they’re OK.
“If I see someone else stopped on the road, I’ll help,” he said. “You say, ‘Hey, there’s a person in need here.’ ”
Dave Steffenson is an assistant editor with The Dispatch in Gilroy.
