HPD locates stolen Cadillac along with 3 suspects connected to multiple crimes in Houston area, officers say

HOUSTON – Authorities with the Houston Police Department have located a stolen vehicle that has been connected to multiple crimes in the area. Inside the vehicle were three suspects who police took into custody Friday evening.

According to HPD, officers said they initially located a red Cadillac that was reported stolen from Fixers Automotive in The Heights last Friday, Jan. 14.

Crina Micu said her husband Tarfin, the lone mechanic and owner of the auto shop, was fixing that red Cadillac when someone started talking to him and then eventually jumped into the car, running Tarfin over. He had to be treated at the hospital.

And then, on Friday, Jan. 21, HPD officers said there were a slew of armed robberies at store parking lots including the Walmart on Silber Road.

Police said the suspects were attempting to rob customers at gunpoint and said the same stolen red Cadillac was located there.

“We had a series of armed robberies involving a red Cadillac in the northwest side of Houston. Our North and Northwest Crime Suppression officers along with our Gang officers started searching the area,” HPD’s Lt. Larry Crowson said.

Investigators then set up surveillance on that vehicle, leading them to the 1700 block of Woodvine Drive at Jalna Street Friday evening.

“The officers set up surveillance on the vehicle, the vehicle was occupied and they tried to drive off,” Crowson said. “The officers used a pit maneuver to take the vehicle off to the side of the road where they took three suspects into custody. We’ll be taking them in for an interview.”

The maneuver ended when the red Cadillac ended up in a ditch.

All three suspects were arrested by officers at the scene and taken into custody for questioning.

Meanwhile, police said the pit maneuver prevented a potential chase, which could have been more dangerous.

“Pretty dangerous suspects. The officers did a really good job [Friday night] and got these suspects in safely,” Crowson said.

As for Tarfin, the mechanic in The Heights, he is out of the hospital but will need physical therapy according to a GoFundMe page created by people in his neighborhood.