Car Thief Arrested After Chase, Crash in Marin Co.: CHP

Fairfax police arrested a San Rafael man suspected of stealing a passerby's Toyota after he fled from a stolen Honda that crashed in west Marin County on Monday night.

The 1998 Honda that was stolen in San Rafael crashed around 10:30 p.m. at Point Reyes-Petaluma Road near Novato Boulevard, California Highway Patrol Officer Andrew Barclay said.

One of the two men in the Honda fled on foot. The other, identified as Isias Estuardo-Rodas, 20, stole a 2001 Toyota Solara driven by a woman who stopped at the scene to help, Barclay said.

 The woman had purchased the Solara three weeks ago and her purse and cellphone were in the stolen Toyota, according to the CHP.

The CHP alerted law enforcement authorities in Marin County about the stolen Toyota and Fairfax police spotted and pursued the car, which then crashed in San Anselmo, CHP officials said.

Estuardo-Rodas was arrested at 12:02 a.m. today at 61 Madrone Ave. in San Anselmo and was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of a probation violation, evading police and taking a vehicle without the owner's consent, according to the jail booking log.

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