Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s deputies followed a vehicle from Southbound I-5 Freeway to Pico Canyon Road Friday morning, tailing a driver suspected of not returning a rental or leased car after the contract expired.

The operation, originally believed to be a pursuit, was initiated on Valencia Boulevard near the Southbound I-5 when the suspect was driving on the I-5 and deputies ran the plates of the vehicle, according to Sheriff’s officials.

“This is what was called a pre-stop tactical coordination,” said Sgt. Brian Hudson with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station. “Units did not ever have lights and sirens activated while behind the suspect.”

The suspect was wanted for being in possession of an embezzled silver Nissan Frontier, said Hudson.

“Whenever any person who has leased or rented a vehicle wilfully and intentionally fails to return the vehicle to its owner within five days after the lease or rental agreement has expired, that person shall be presumed to have embezzled the vehicle,” according to the vehicle code.

The suspect was taken into custody at the Ralph’s parking lot on the corner of the Old Road and Pico Canyon Road, according to Sheriff’s officials.

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