“Kudos to the State Parks peace officers who responded to this crime in progress and, putting their own safety aside, pursued this carjacking suspect and rescued a young child who must have been terribly frightened.  Great work and we are glad no one was hurt.”

CSLEA President Alan Barcelona

NAPA COUNTY- On August 21, 2025, during a multiagency cannabis enforcement operation in Napa County, State Parks peace officers executed a search warrant and dismantled a water diversion that originated from within the adjacent state park — then the officers encountered a separate public safety emergency. Unrelated to the cannabis operation, a suspect attempted to steal a patrol vehicle and later carjacked a motorist with the victim’s seven-year-old daughter still inside. State Parks peace officers initiated a pursuit and safely recovered the child before arresting the suspect. The suspect, who had crashed a stolen vehicle prior to the encounter, was wanted for arson, assault with a deadly weapon, and theft.

“This was more than a simple enforcement action — it was a moment of heroism, a moment where State Park Rangers and Lifeguards demonstrated their prowess as fully sworn peace officers,” said State Parks Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Division Chief Alex Luscutoff. “The officers’ swift response and coordinated pursuit resulted in a mother being reunited with her daughter and a very dangerous individual being safely taken into custody.”