Stolen Calif. Cruiser Recovered; Suspect in Custody

Nov. 6, 2013

An unmarked police car reported stolen from the San Bernardino City Hall parking lot on Oct. 21 was recovered Friday and the man suspected of stealing it was taken into custody.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. -- An unmarked police car reported stolen from the San Bernardino City Hall parking lot on Oct. 21 was recovered Friday and the man suspected of stealing it was taken into custody.

San Bernardino Police Department detectives found the stolen police car at an apartment complex at 1925 W. College, police said in a news release.

The car was taken and processed for evidence, which led investigators to a man who has crossed paths with police before, for the same type of crime.

David Battle, 43, of San Bernardino, was arrested at a home in the 2400 block of West Rosemary Lane.

Battle had been released from custody under the Post Release Community Supervision program just seven days prior to the theft of the unmarked police car, police officials said.

Battle's prior prison incarceration was for theft of a law enforcement vehicle, police said.

Detectives served a search warrant at his home and found numerous stolen Ford keys that would allow him access to any number of vehicles, according to the news release.

Battle was booked into the Central Detention Center jail in San Bernardino and held in lieu of $50,000 bail for suspicion of grand theft auto and violating the condition of release associated with PRCS.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service