Suspect tries to get away without the shirt on his back.

A man driving down San Fernando Road Saturday evening near Magic Mountain Parkway thought something about the car in front of him was familiar – it was the 1996 Acura Integra he’d reported stolen just minutes before.

As he called the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station, he followed his stolen car into the Best Buy parking lot at 26531 Bouquet Canyon Road. The suspect got out of the car and was smoking a cigarette nearby, but when he heard the sound of approaching sirens, he started running through the parking lot toward Newhall Ranch Road.

After hiding in the bushes near Boston Market, the suspect then started running down Newhall Ranch Road, discarding items of clothing to avoid identification. Several other witnesses got involved and relayed information to responding deputies who took the suspect into custody without incident. 

Newhall resident Jonathan Blankenship, 22, was arrested and booked on suspicion of grant theft auto and burglary. Upon searching the stolen car, deputies recovered several electronic items, cell phones, car stereos and other personal identification information, which they believe may have been taken during other vehicle burglaries and incidents of theft throughout the afternoon. 

Blankenship is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.