Crime & Safety
Parolee Arrested Sunday in Albany After Attempted Car Jacking in Richmond
Police recovered a submachine gun pistol they said was used in the Richmond incident from an Albany home.
A Vallejo man was arrested in Albany early Sunday after authorities said he used a pistol and tried to steal a vehicle in Richmond.
About 1:30 a.m. Sunday, Albany police officer Officer William Boehm heard a report over his scanner that Richmond police were looking for a man who brandished a firearm and tried to steal a car at Carlson and Santa Cruz avenues in Richmond, said Sgt. Tom Dolter of the Albany Police Department.
About an hour later, Boehm saw a man matching the suspect's description get into a black Honda CRV at Albany Arco, 1001 San Pablo Ave. He followed the Honda and, along with other officers, stopped it on Brighton and San Pablo avenues to speak with the driver.
Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Police identified the driver as 25-year-old Gary Ralph Sinclair of Vallejo. Dolter said Sinclair was on parole for car theft.
Police searched Sinclair and the vehicle but did not find a weapon. Richmond Police joined Albany officers during the stop, Dolter said, and took Sinclair into custody.
Find out what's happening in Albanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
After further investigation, Albany police found a loaded 9mm submachine gun pistol at a nearby Albany residence, said Dolter. Police said the gun was the one used in the earlier incident. It was turned over to the Richmond Police Department as evidence in the case.
Sinclair is being held at the Martinez Detention Facility without bail on suspicion of car jacking, robbery and possession of a firearm, according to the jail. He is not eligible for bail because he was on parole at the time of his arrest.
