A Santa Cruz man suspected of having 10 stolen vehicles was arrested Friday after a brief armed standoff with police.
Ryan Michael Peterson, 44, was charged with vehicle theft, receiving stolen property and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. He was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.
The arrest included the California Highway Patrol Coastal Division warrant service team, along with Santa Cruz Police Department, the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and Watsonville Police Department.
The investigation by the Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Reduction Task Force involved Petersen, who had prior felony convictions and was believed to be in possession of at least two stolen vehicles. He was also thought to have a shotgun and a rifle, CHP officer Julieta Trenado said.
When CHP and SCPD served a search warrant at Petersen’s residence around 7 a.m., he refused to come out and barricaded himself inside his trailer at 5252 Branciforte Drive.Â
He came out after several hours of negotiations.
Investigators later seized a 12-gauge shotgun and 10 stolen vehicles.
