Construction workers fight, detain suspected vehicle thief

A vehicle theft suspect was detained by construction workers in Rohnert Park on Friday afternoon after he was spotted trying to start a truck with several construction tools inside, police said.

Antonio Magana Sandoval, 36, of Rohnert Park, was arrested on suspicion of attempted vehicle theft and attempted grand theft, according to Rohnert Park police.

Investigators said Sandoval apparently entered the unlocked truck in the 400 block of Southwest Boulevard about noon Friday and removed the dash, steering column and shifter, using tools found in the truck. Sandoval was apparently trying to get the vehicle started without a key, police said.

“If the alert construction workers had not seen Sandoval attempting to get the truck started and detained him, he could have gotten away with the truck and tools,” according to a release from Sgt. N. LaBonte Sandoval was fighting with the owner, who was trying to detain the suspect, when police arrived at the scene.

Sandoval was arrested without further incident. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail and is being held on $10,000 bail.