SAN MATEO (BCN) — Two men were hospitalized early this morning following a police pursuit that began after San Mateo police officers witnessed the men trying to steal a vehicle.
Around 4:45 a.m., officers responded to the 200 block of Harvard Road after a resident reported that two suspects were trying to steal a car, according to police.
Upon arrival, officers found the burglarized vehicle but were initially unable to locate the suspects.
After canvassing the neighborhood, officers located the suspects on Fairfax Avenue attempting to steal a different vehicle.
Upon seeing police, the suspects got in their car and fled, police said.
An officer followed the pair as they traveled south on El Camino Real. The officer determined the suspect vehicle had been reported stolen out of San Jose, according to police.
During the pursuit, the suspects allegedly threw various items out of their vehicle, which officers later determined was stolen property that had been taken from burglarized vehicles earlier this morning.
When the suspects reached Hillsdale Boulevard, their vehicle collided with another vehicle. The suspect vehicle, however, kept traveling southbound, until it struck nearby concrete pillars, causing major damage to
the suspect vehicle and injuring the two men.
The two suspects were hospitalized with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said.
Occupants inside the car the suspect vehicle first collided with were not injured.
One of the suspects has been identified as 23-year-old Oakland resident Juan Vargas Garibay. Garibay has an extensive criminal history for violent offenses, according to police.
The other suspect, a man in his mid 20s, is refusing to cooperate with investigators and police have not yet determined his identity.
Once released from the hospital, the two men will be arrested on suspicion of evading police, attempted auto theft, burglary, possession of stolen property and conspiracy, police said.