San Rafael, CA – On 07/04/2023, SRPD officers arrested Albin Adolfo Mendez-Mazariegos, a 22-year-old Novato resident, after he fled from officers in a stolen vehicle and then crashed in front of San Rafael High School.  After a brief search, aided by members of the surrounding neighborhood, Mendez-Mazariegos was located and arrested.  Mendez-Mazariegos was booked into the Marin County Jail on several felony charges.  Mendez-Mazariegos, a known car thief, is also being investigated in connection with other vehicle theft cases.

Just before 11:40 AM, an SRPD officer was at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Second Street and observed a vehicle accelerate through a red traffic signal light.  The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, and it ran through a second red traffic signal light at the next intersection.  

The officer noticed that the vehicle appeared to be evading as it increased speed.  The vehicle went from northbound Grand Avenue and then onto eastbound Mission Avenue.  The officer observed that the vehicle was driving dangerously and at an excessive rate of speed.  The officer, in the interest of public safety, discontinued actively pursuing the vehicle.

Even though not being pursued, the suspect vehicle continued traveling east on Mission Avenue at a high rate of speed, lost control in front of San Rafael High School, and then crashed into several concrete bollards.  Fortunately, the vehicle stopped just short of colliding with the school gymnasium.

Several neighborhood witnesses observed the collision and saw two suspects run from the car.  SRPD immediately began receiving 9-1-1 calls about the collision.  Witnesses were able to provide the location of where the suspects were running.  Mendez-Mazariegos, the driver, was observed running into the backyard of a residence in the 100 block of Belle Avenue.  Officers arrived on the scene, located the crashed vehicle, and began setting up a perimeter to contain the suspects.

Within five minutes, an SRPD officer located Mendez-Mazariegos hiding in the backyard where he was last seen.  Additional officers arrived and took Mendez-Mazariegos into custody without incident.  Officers continued searching for the second suspect, and he was not located.

During the investigation, it was learned that the vehicle Mendez-Mazariegos was driving was reported stolen by the Central Marin Police Authority.  Additionally, Novato Police contacted SRPD and reported that Mendez-Mazariegos was being investigated for stealing a car from their jurisdiction.

Mendez-Mazariegos is known to SRPD relating to other vehicle theft cases.  On 06/23/23, Mendez-Mazariegos was arrested after being in another stolen vehicle.  Mendez-Mazariegos is also on felony Marin County Probation for vehicle theft.

Mendez-Mazariegos was booked into the Marin County Jail for felony possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading an officer with wanton disregard for public safety, felony violation of probation, and misdemeanor driving a vehicle while unlicensed.    

SRPD is still investigating to determine who the second suspect was.  No one was injured in the collision.

SRPD is grateful to our community, who immediately called 9-1-1 to report the collision and where the suspects fled.  The assistance of the surrounding neighborhood led to the successful arrest of Mendez-Mazariegos.