Auburn, Calif.- Placer County sheriff’s deputies arrested two Castro Valley men after the stolen car the pair were riding in rammed two patrol cars around 1 p.m. last Tuesday.
Deputies were following a Honda on Galena Drive in north Auburn after they ran the plate and found out the car was stolen from Penryn. The car turned onto Town Court, near Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, when the driver, Joseph L. Engel, 21, swerved into the opposing lane and struck a patrol car head-on. Engel then backed up and rammed another patrol car. Two detective’s vehicles were also damaged by Engel. No one was injured in the incident.
Engel and his passenger, Daniel Collins, 20, were able to drive a short distance and then run from the car. A short foot-pursuit ensued and both suspects were taken into custody. Deputies found a second stolen vehicle parked at the Galena Drive address the men were associated with. That car had been reported stolen from Davis.
Engel and Collins are being held at the Placer County Jail. Engel was booked on charges of vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, evading, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Collins was booked on charges of possession of stolen property and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail for Collins is set at $5,000 and Engel’s bail is $25,000.
