COSLINGS POLICE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
Date: February 8, 2021
Prepared By/Contact Person: Sean Young, Police Commander
On Monday, February 8, 2021, at approximately 11:13 am, an auto theft was reported to the Coalinga Police Department.
The victim, whose identity is being withheld at this time, reported that her 2011 GMC Acadia was stolen from her apartment complex’ parking lot located in the 300 block of West Polk Street during the night. The victim identified 29 year old Coalinga transient, Julian Escalante as the person she suspected of stealing the vehicle.
During the initial investigation, the stolen vehicle was entered into a national database, which triggered the activation of the stolen vehicle’s Lojack Auto Theft System.
During the day, the vehicle was tracked to various areas throughout the central valley. The vehicle eventually came to a stop in a field outside of Coalinga in the area of Jacalitos Creek Road at Lost Hills Road.
Upon the arrival of Coalinga Police Officers, they were able to locate the vehicle, which was stuck in the dirt. Officer were also able to see the suspect, whom they knew to be Julian Escalante, attempting to free the vehicle from the dirt. Escalante was unaware that he was being watched.
Officers were able to approach and apprehend Escalante without incident. The stolen vehicle was returned to its owner and Escalante was transported to the Coalinga City Jail for various charges, including auto theft, and for violating the terms of his probation. He is pending transport to the Fresno County Main Jail where he will be booked into custody.
Escalante has been identified as a suspect in several other cases currently being investigated by the Coalinga Police Department.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the Coalinga Police Department’s Public Safety Dispatch Center at (559) 935-1525.
