OAKHURST — For the second time in two days, Madera County Sheriff’s Mountain night deputies have recovered a stolen vehicle to be returned to its rightful owner.
On Feb. 19, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received information from Colusa Police Department that a vehicle reported stolen from their jurisdiction was in the Oakhurst area.
Sheriff’s deputies promptly began following leads to the location of the suspect, John Ruano.
During the course of the investigation, deputies developed information that Ruano was going to drive the vehicle to a parking lot in Oakhurst.
When Ruano arrived driving the stolen vehicle, Sergeant Rob Blehm, Corporal Hernandez, Deputy Michael Murphy, Deputy Gerald Marin, Deputy Jose Villafan, and Deputy Eric Jackson with K9 partner Gaston were on scene and subsequently surrounded the vehicle.
Ruano immediately surrendered and was taken into custody.
John Ruano was transported and booked in at Madera County Department of Corrections without incident on felony charges of being in possession of a stolen vehicle and for violating the terms/conditions of his parole. He is being held on a $5,000 bond.
The stolen vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim at the scene.
(Photo courtesy Madera County Sheriff)
