Man arrested after chase at airport in San Jose
SAN JOSE, California -- Police have arrested a 39-year-old man they say breached security and commandeered an airport work truck at Mineta San Jose International Airport on Sunday.
Airport spokesperson Rosemary Barnes said a call came in around 10:15 a.m. Sunday to report a man was walking on a ramp or tarmac on the west side of the airport.
It is unknown how the man got on airport property. Officials say passengers were never in any danger.
"I wasn't sure if he was on the tarmac. All I know is he jumped into one of the trucks and took off," one airport maintenance employee said.
Sgt. Heather Randol said airport staff spotted Miguel Zaragoza near a restricted loading ramp and escorted him into a nearby building. While they were waiting for police to arrive, the suspect bolted outside and ran across the parking lot, where he found a maintenance worker.
"He asked the airport maintenance worker for a ride to the terminal. The answer was no, so he proceeded to somehow get into the maintenance vehicle and drive on the street side to the airport terminal," San Jose International Airport spokesperson Rosemary Barnes said.
Airport maintenance crews are shocked that a fellow employee got his truck stolen by Zaragoza.
Police say Zaragoza drove to a terminal where he was arrested by police.
They say the suspect was acting strangely and may have been under the influence of drugs.
The Associated Press and Bay City News contributed to this report.
