NOVATO PD PRESS RELEASE
As a proactive effort to help reduce increasing retail thefts in the area, Novato Police Officers have been conducting extra patrols in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center. Yesterday (3/9), around 2:50PM, Novato Police officers noticed a woman following a man with a cell phone camera. The man was walking away from the woman with the camera, hastily. The suspicious nature of events led the officers to believe the man was responsible for a crime. They later learned the woman had witnessed the man stealing products from Ulta Beauty and reported the incident to employees.
The officers observed the man enter a black Lexus in the shopping center parking lot and attempted to stop the suspect in a traffic stop near Rowland Blvd and Vintage Way. Instead of yielding, the suspect drove away from the officers on the wrong side of the road. The officers pursued the suspect, as they believed he had committed a serious offense and was possibly impaired posing a risk to public safety.
The suspect drove away from the officers and continued to drive south on Hwy 101, in a reckless manner. During the pursuit, the suspect exited onto Ignacio Blvd, drove on the wrong side of the road, and then continued south on Hwy 101. Near the Miller Creek off-ramp area, the suspect vehicle appeared damaged, potentially from striking a curb, and began to smoke heavily. The Lexus eventually came to a stop before the Manuel T. Freitas off-ramp. Due to concerns about the vehicle potentially catching fire, the officers directed the two occupants out of the vehicle and safely detained them.
Arrested:
• Jason Ware: a 22-year-old Richmond resident
• Imereta Faalogoifo: a 22-year-old Daly City resident
The investigation confirmed that Ware was the driver of the Lexus and the suspect responsible for the theft of over $1,000 worth of goods from Ulta Beauty. He was booked into Marin County Jail for felony evading, grand theft, and conspiracy. Ware was also arrested and booked for California Penal Code section 666.1, a felony, and a recently enacted law to hold suspects with prior theft convictions accountable for retail theft violations. Faalogoifo was also arrested and booked into the Marin County Jail for conspiracy as the investigation revealed she and Ware were acting in concert to commit theft.
We would like to thank the Marin CHP and Marin Sheriff for their assistance with traffic control and pursuit assistance. We appreciate store staff members and witnesses who reported these incidents, while they were occurring. Witnesses providing timely and accurate information can be the key in helping us solve these cases. Report suspicious activity, when it occurs, by calling 415-897-4361. Report crimes online at novato.org/reportacrime. In an emergency, call 9-1-1.
Stay safe Novato!
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