Armed Nevada man caught with stolen car in Soquel

A car stolen out of Nevada was spotted in Santa Cruz County late Monday night.

According to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office, deputies investigated a shoplifting in the Rio Flats area of Aptos when they spotted a stolen Mitsubishi.

CHP officers located the car driving in the area of Seacliff. Officers pursued the car into Capitola Village where two people jumped out of the Mitsubishi and ran once they were cornered in a parking lot.

Two hours later, a deputy was driving through Soquel Village when he stopped to talk to 20-year-old Nathan Whitton, who they say appeared distraught. Whitton was found in possession of a loaded .38 caliber revolver in his pants and admitted to being the passenger in the Mitsubishi. He also said he stole the car in Nevada.

CHP and Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s booked Whitton into Santa Cruz County Jail for vehicle theft and possession of a loaded, concealed and unregistered handgun.