A burglary alarm alerted Riverbank Police Services deputies to a suspect in a stolen SUV who fled causing a pursuit, the shooting out of tires, and eventually a police canine to take the suspect into custody.
On Jan. 10, around 3 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a burglary in progress at the Riverbank City Corp. Yard on the 2900 block of High Street. As deputies arrived on scene, they spotted a Mercedes SUV leaving the area at a high rate of speed. Deputies attempted to pull the SUV over, but it continued to flee, prompting a pursuit.
Sheriff’s officials state that at one point during the pursuit, the suspect drove head-on directly towards a deputy’s patrol car. The deputy was able to take evasive action and drive onto the shoulder of road to avoid a collision.
With deputies in pursuit, the SUV drove through several orchards and into a field, eventually crashing into a fence at the Riverbank Wastewater Treatment Facility, approximately a mile from where the pursuit started.
As deputies pulled up behind the car, the driver of the vehicle was attempting to dislodge it, moving back and forth on the fence, attempting to flee again. As two deputies began to approach the car from the side, they noticed the driver was close to dislodging the SUV, almost striking a third deputy that had arrived as back-up. Deputies subsequently shot out the rear tires of the SUV to disable it.
Then, deputies broke out the rear window of the Mercedes and continued to give orders for the suspect to surrender, but he refused. When deputies deployed pepper spray on the driver, he climbed out of the car and fled on foot across the downed fence.
A Stanislaus Sheriff’s K9 Unit was on scene and, after ignoring orders to stop, the canine was deployed allowing deputies to safely arrest the suspect. After apprehension, deputies learned the Mercedes SUV was stolen.
Deputies identified the suspect as Lucas Gilliland, 34, of Modesto. He was booked into Stanislaus County Jail for burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting arrest, evading, auto theft, and several other felony charges. Gilliland remains in custody with a $200,000 bail. He was due for an appearance in court on Tuesday, Jan. 19, after The News went to press.
