Former sheriff weighs in after man accused of stealing police cruiser in a now-viral video
By Cecil Hannibal
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SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — A viral video shows the moments a Sacramento man allegedly stole a police cruiser before police say he fired a rifle inside and led law enforcement on a 40-mile chase to Lodi before being arrested.
Isaac Paval, 28, appeared in court Monday for an unrelated crime and is expected to face charges related to this incident Tuesday afternoon. The chase began after police responded to a vandalism call and pursued the suspect on foot.
On Monday, Sacramento Police said the department believes the rifle was locked and secured but are investigating how the suspect was able to unlock and access the rifle.
Former Sacramento County Sheriff John McGinnis, who viewed the viral video, said, “Obviously this is not how things are supposed to go.”
McGinnis explained why officers often leave their vehicles running.
“The practice is to keep the cars running because you want to be ready to jump in and go should the big red handle be pulled and there’s a need for immediate response. In fact, the call that you’re on could escalate to the point that you have to move quickly,” he said.
Sacramento police declined to comment on whether the officer involved would face disciplinary action, citing the ongoing investigation. McGinnis shared his perspective on handling such incidents.
“If this is a first error, my personal belief is this could be resolved with documented counseling and just reinforcing the need to maintain the security of that equipment,” he said.
Paval now faces eight felony charges, including driving under the influence and possession of an assault weapon. Investigators have not disclosed if Paval aimed at anyone or fired at random.
He’s expected in court Tuesday afternoon.
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