A suspected car thief, who Susanville Police Officers found unresponsive behind the wheel of a stolen vehicle, woke suddenly and rammed a patrol car and dragged an officer several feet before being taken into custody early Tuesday morning.
According to Susanville Police Department Public Information Officer Victoria Estrada, officers received a report that a Dodge pickup had been stolen from the Johnstonville Road area. Keys were left in the vehicle which allowed the truck to be stolen from the owner’s driveway.
Just before 6:30a.m. Officers were dispatched to an address on Joaquin Street where a man was reported to be sitting, unresponsive, in a white pickup truck.
“When officers arrived on scene they confirmed that the vehicle was the prior reported stolen pickup,” explains Estrada.
“Officers approached the single occupant, who was seated in the driver’s seat with the vehicle running.”
Police identified the unresponsive man as Brenton Sullivan, who is known by the department to be responsible for multiple stolen vehicles and has fled from law enforcement previously here in Lassen County.
“Officers attempted to turn off the ignition and disable the vehicle,” said Estrada.
When police opened the driver’s door Sullivan became combative and, while still struggling, shifted the vehicle into reverse and accelerated into a SPD patrol car, dragging an officer several feet and disabling a police vehicle.
Once the vehicle was stopped, officers were able to remove Sullivan and take him into custody. No one, including the officer involved, was injured.
“Susanville Police would like to thank the observant and diligent citizens who brought this individual to our attention. We would also like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to not leave their keys in their vehicles.”
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