NEWMAN, Calif. — A man wanted for a string of home burglaries and car thefts was arrested Friday, months after he first began eluding law enforcement.
Brandon Loyd was arrested on Friday, March 22 during a 4:40 p.m. traffic stop on Hills Ferry Road outside of Newman, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department.
Last December Patterson detectives identified the 33-year-old Ceres resident as the suspect in a residential burglary in which firearms had been stolen from the home.
In January Sheriff’s detectives identified Loyd as the suspect of another residential burglary in south Modesto where firearms were again stolen from a home. In that case, Loyd was captured on surveillance video and he arrived at the home in a stolen vehicle.
Detectives began to search for Loyd, just missing him at several locations throughout Stanislaus and Merced counties.
While on the run, Loyd was identified as the suspect in several more burglaries and vehicle thefts, the Department said. During the course of the investigation, detectives learned that he may be armed and had made comments to friends and family members that he would not go back to jail and would commit suicide by cop if necessary to avoid jail time.
In February the Department put a wanted poster out for Lloyd on its Facebook page, warning the public that he may be armed and dangerous. Tips started coming into Crimestoppers and detectives began following up on several leads, according to the department.
ARREST
On Friday, March 22 detectives were tipped off to Lloyd's location and sent undercover detectives in unmarked vehicles to the 13000 block of Carpenter Road in Modesto, the department said. His location was confirmed when they spotted him in the passenger seat of a car around 4 p.m.
Once assistance arrived, the Department said Deputy Nathan Crain and his K9 partner Colt pulled behind the vehicle to make the stop at Hills Ferry Road, just west of River Road on the outskirts of Newman.
As the car slowed, Loyd jumped out of the passenger side and ran towards a field in an attempt to flee, according to the Department. That's when Deputy Crain deployed K9 Colt, who was able to apprehend Loyd so that Crain and detectives could arrest him.
Loyd was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for a bite wound sustained while being apprehended by K9 Colt. He was then taken to jail where he was booked for three counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of auto theft and two counts of possessing a stolen vehicle. Video of his arrest can be seen here. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding any of these cases is encouraged to call Detective Wilson at 209-525-7022.