Two Bay Area Men Arrested For Hitting Placer Patrol Cars In Stolen Vehicle

AUBURN (CBS13) - Two Bay Area men were arrested on Tuesday after they reportedly rammed two Placer County sheriff's patrol cars in a stolen Honda.

Deputies were following a the car on Galena Drive in north Auburn after they ran the plate and found out it was stolen from Penryn. The car turned onto Town Court, near Sutter Auburn Faith Hospital, when the driver, Joseph L. Engel, 21, reportedly swerved into the opposing lane and struck a patrol car head-on.

Engel then backed up and rammed another patrol car. Two detective's vehicles were also damaged by Engel. No one was injured in the incident.

Engel and his passenger, Daniel Collins, 20, both of Castro Valley, drove on a short distance and then ran from the car. A short foot-pursuit ensued and both men were taken into custody. Deputies found a second stolen vehicle parked at a Galena Drive address the men were associated with, the sheriff's office said. That car had been reported stolen from Davis.

Engel and Collins are being held at the Placer County Jail. Engel was booked on charges of vehicle theft, assault with a deadly weapon, evading, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Collins was booked on charges of possession of stolen property and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Bail for Collins is set at $5,000 and Engel's bail is $25,000.