(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Police investigated a Mitsubishi Outlander that had been stolen on Thursday, March 5, from the area of East Platte Avenue and South Academy Boulevard, tracking down the vehicle and suspect when they discovered that he was connected to previous credit card and identity theft cases, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD).
CSPD reported that on Friday, March 6, officers found the stolen Outlander. Motor Vehicle Theft Detectives took over the investigation in the area of Chelton Road and Palmer Park Boulevard, and identified the driver as 27-year-old Jose Garcia-Ruiz. Tactical units made contact with Garcia-Ruiz in the 1400 block of Chelton Road, but the suspect ran away on foot. He was quickly caught and placed in custody.
According to CSPD, detectives discovered previously connected events, including an attempted vehicle burglary on Wednesday, March 4, near East Platte and North Murray Boulevard, and another attempted vehicle theft on Thursday, in the area of Pikes Peak Avenue and Chelton Road. In both events, there had previously been no suspects identified in either event, but after his arrest, detectives confirmed that Garcia-Ruiz was the suspect…