Caught on Camera: Aurora Police Nab Wanted Car Thief After Pursuit
Two suspects were arrested Wednesday morning after Aurora police spotted a stolen Toyota RAV4 near East 32nd Avenue and North Airport Boulevard during a proactive crime-reduction patrol. The vehicle, originally stolen out of Denver, led officers on a chase into the Montbello neighborhood. When officers attempted a traffic stop, the driver fled, prompting a pursuit that ended with a successful PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver.
The passenger, 26-year-old Mackson Beti, surrendered on the scene. Police said Beti was found with a felony quantity of narcotics, several stolen credit cards, and a handgun equipped with an extended magazine. The driver, 28-year-old Abel Paneo-Castro, fled on foot but was quickly apprehended after trying to scale a fence into a residential backyard. Body camera footage released by Aurora PD captured the moment officers tackled Paneo-Castro mid-climb.
Paneo-Castro, who has an extensive criminal record including vehicle thefts, felony eluding, drug possession, and weapons violations, also had an active warrant for obstruction and criminal trespass at the time of arrest. Authorities praised the success of the department’s overtime patrol initiative, which targets crime trends through additional district-focused patrol hours. Aurora Police also extended thanks to the Denver Police Department for their assistance in the arrest.
