Story Archive

Playing Cops and Robbers

Omar Cazares, 39, was arrested in Oroville, Calif., on a charge of being drunk in public. As soon as Cazares sobered up, he was released. According to Sheriff Kory Honea, Cazares went out into the jail’s parking lot and smashed in the window of a parked sheriff’s vehicle. According to Honea, the keys had been left in the ignition, and Cazares was able to steal the vehicle, leading the police on a half-hour chase, reaching speeds of up to 70 mph. At one point, officers heard Cazares over the radio asking how to unlock the shotgun and rifle that were locked next to the driver’s seat. Police ended the chase using spike strips, and arrested Cazares on charges of auto theft, felony attempting to evade peace officers, burglary, and possession of ammunition by an individual prohibited from having ammunition. The next day, Sheriff Honea “put out a directive” to all of his staff to be “diligent” about not leaving keys in their vehicles. (MS/Chico Enterprise-Record) ...And Cazares put out a warning to his fellow criminals to be “diligent” about fully leaving the jail area before committing their next crime.