A man suspected of stealing as many as 50 Hondas during the past six months has been arrested by the Wheat Ridge Police Department.
The man is identified as 21-year-old Everett Quintana.
Quintana was apprehended Monday after he was spotted by Wheat Ridge officer Russell Henzie sitting in a stolen Nissan Maxima in front of a home in the 4500 block of Field Street.
According to Wheat Ridge Division Commander Joe Cassa, as officers questioned Quintana, he ran away. Minutes later, he came back and attempted to get into the vehicle.
After being stopped a second time, Quintana ran into a nearby house.
When he ran out the back door of the home 75 minutes later, he was taken into custody.
A subsequent joint investigation by the Wheat Ridge Police Department and the Jefferson County Regional Auto Theft Task Force turned up evidence that Quintana is a prolific car thief, according to investigators.
During an interview, Quintana said he had stolen as many as 50 Hondas in the past six months, police said.
The Jefferson County Regional Auto Theft Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional agency formed this summer.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
