On February 27, 2021, at about 8:47 PM, deputies from the San Marcos Sheriff Station’s Gang Enforcement Team saw an occupied stolen vehicle near the intersection of Rancho Santa Fe Road and Capalina Road, in the city of San Marcos. Deputies tried to pull the stolen car over, but the driver did not stop, resulting in a vehicle pursuit through the cities of Vista, Carlsbad and Encinitas.
Sheriff’s ASTREA Helicopter assisted in locating and following the stolen car from the air, enabling the patrol units to stop pursuing. ASTREA provided updates on the stolen car’s location as the ground units safely followed.
The incident ended when the driver of the stolen car exited the southbound 5 freeway at Encinitas Boulevard and collided with an MTS bus. No one on the bus was injured. The driver fled the stolen car on foot and was quickly apprehended by Sheriff deputies. After the collision with the MTS bus, the stolen car continued to roll forward with a female passenger still inside. The stolen car collided with a guard rail, which caused the car’s airbags to deploy. The female passenger of the stolen car was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries.
The driver of the stolen car was identified as 21-year-old Jesus Padilla. He was arrested for felony evasion, vehicle theft, and possession of a stolen vehicle. He was booked into the Vista Detention Facility.
