Re: Golden Gate National Recreation Area: Car Clout Suspect Arrested

Golden Gate National Recreation Area (CA)
Car Clout Suspect Arrested

Rangers and a Park Police sergeant apprehended and arrested a man in the Marin Headlands last Saturday afternoon for a series of car clouts that had occurred throughout the day in Marin County and the park. Operations supervisor Kim Coast was leaving the park housing area when she saw the driver of a sport utility vehicle going faster than the posted speed limit and passing other cars on a solid double line. Coast was able to pull out in front of the driver and get him to slow down. Upon doing so, the driver shouted that his wife’s purse had just been stolen and that the suspect was getting away. The driver actually witnessed the theft and was trying to get the man to stop on his own. The driver provided an accurate description of the suspect, his vehicle, and the vehicle’s license plate. Coast immediately put a be on the lookout message out over the radio. Sergeant Todd Roth heard the traffic and responded from his residence. Roth obtained the information from Coast and was able to make it through the one-way tunnel that leads to the Headlands. Once on the other side, he watched until the suspect’s vehicle appeared. Roth then conducted a traffic stop, assisted by ranger Anne Leone. During the course of the stop, Roth was able to get the man to admit that he had stolen a woman’s purse. Coast drove the victim to the scene and he confirmed that Roth and Leone had stopped the correct person. The man was placed under arrest. During the search of his vehicle, it was determined that he’d broken into another vehicle in the Marin Headlands and five other vehicles in Marin County, all areas near the park. Working jointly with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office, arrangements were made to assure that the man received enhanced bail and would accordingly remain in jail. A search warrant will be executed with assistance from Marin County deputies. Leone confirmed that inside the vehicle other property had been recovered from at least two prior clouting incidents (one in the park and one within the county). The investigation is ongoing. Leone is the case ranger working with the county. [Submitted by Kim Coast, Operations Supervisor]


What is Car Clouting?

---

The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

Quote
Frank Furter
What is Car Clouting?

Breaking into a car and taking things.

Is that what bears do in the Valley?

---

The cure for a fallacious argument is a better argument, not the suppression of ideas.
-- Carl Sagan

Quote
Frank Furter
Is that what bears do in the Valley?

I think it needs to be a people to be car clouting.

I'd note that Golden Gate NRA is one of the places with regular patrols by the US Parks Police. They have a combination of regular LE rangers and Parks Police. I think the US Parks Police do have special investigative personnel who might do things like murder or other serious crime investigations on NPS land.