The Sacramento Police Department has been deploying bait equipment strategically to take proactive measures in reducing theft and burglaries throughout the city. Recently, bait equipment has been placed in a parking lot located in the 3600 block of N. Freeway Boulevard due to vehicles being targeted.

On Monday, August 19, 2019, at approximately 12:16 p.m., officers from the Sacramento Police Department were advised by dispatch that there was an activation of this bait equipment. Officers arrived in the area and observed a white Jaguar fleeing as they monitored the GPS of the bait equipment. Officers determined the bait equipment was inside this fleeing vehicle. Officers got behind the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop. As multiple marked police vehicles got behind the vehicle, the driver of the Jaguar accelerated and fled from the officers. A vehicle pursuit was initiated until the driver traveled to the area of El Centro Road and Interstate 80. At that point, ground units discontinued their involvement in the vehicle pursuit and a law enforcement helicopter monitored the fleeing vehicle.

While monitoring the vehicle, personnel in the helicopter observed the vehicle stop in an apartment complex at Oak Harbour Drive and Gateway Oaks Drive. While inside the apartment complex, the driver parked the Jaguar, exited and got into the passenger’s side of a van that was parked with a door open.

The van traveled out of the area and ground officers conducted a traffic stop on this vehicle. Officers detained two occupants (driver and passenger) and conducted follow-up investigation which included resources from patrol, the North Problem Oriented Policing Team, the North Gang Enforcement Team, and the North Neighborhood Crimes Unit. The stolen bait equipment was located inside the Jaguar that fled the scene and evaded officers.

The driver of the van was identified as 24-year-old Cyrus Ashford (see attached photo) and he was arrested for accessory after the fact and probation violation. The driver of the Jaguar, who was also passenger in the van, was identified as 24-year-old Kendrick West (see attached photo) and he was arrested for possession of stolen property, felony evading and violation of post release community supervision.

Our police department continues to find innovative ways to effectively police property crimes. This includes bait deployments and other measures of crime prevention, intervention and proactive policing.