Crime & Safety
Murrieta Police Pursue, Arrest Suspected Shoplifter
The 18-year-old suspect allegedly stole video games from Wal-Mart and then fled on a mountain bike allegedly stolen from Dick's Sporting Goods.
An 18-year-old who allegedly stole video games and other items from Walmart Thursday and then fled on a previously stolen bicycle led Murrieta police on a brief pursuit before his arrest.
At about 5:20 p.m. Thursday, Andrew Jacob Williams allegedly concealed the stolen items, leaving on a silver mountain bicycle.
Murrieta police attempted to stop the suspect on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, just east of the Interstate 15 overpass, where he attempted to evade arrest, according to police scanner activity.
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The suspect rode his bike east on Murrieta Hot Springs Road, making a left-hand turn onto Sparkman Drive, then got off the bicycle and ran off.
He was stopped in a dirt field near Medical Center Drive.
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Employees from Wal-Mart were brought out to the scene and positively identified him as the person who allegedly stole the merchandise.
The bike being ridden by the suspect was also called in as stolen from in Murrieta, according to police scanner activity.
Williams was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor, and burglary, a felony, according to jail records. He was booked Thursday at Southwest Detention Center, where he was being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.
