Mistake No. 1 On Motorcycle w/o Helmet; Mistake No. 2 Being Wanted; Mistake No. 3 Motorycycle's Stolen; Mistake No. 4 ...

Palo Alto Police Department officers chased down and arrested a wanted felon from Texas Sunday night for an array of charges after he fled on foot during a vehicle stop on Churchill Avenue. 

A patrol officer stopped the man at 9:42 p.m. on Churchill Avenue (just west of Alma Street) for riding a motorcycle without a helmet, police said.

After contacting the man and getting his identification, one officer returned to his vehicle to write a citation while a second officer stood nearby the suspect.

The suspect then started the motorcycle in an effort to ride away, police said. The officer immediately grabbed onto the suspect, who revved the engine but could not get it into gear, according to the department.

The officer pulled the suspect off of the motorcycle, police said, but the suspect was able to break free and ran away with both officers in foot pursuit. 

After a brief chase down Churchill Avenue towards El Camino Real, one officer reportedly tackled the suspect to the ground.

Both officers struggled with the suspect for a short time before safely taking him custody, police said.

The suspect sustained minor injuries to his face during the struggle, and was treated at the scene by personnel from the Palo Alto Fire Department, reports state.

One officer sustained minor injuries to his hand and forearm, but did not require any medical attention. The other officer was not injured. 

The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspect, 27-year-old Aaron Keith Stanley of Henrietta, Texas, had a felony larceny warrant out of Clay County, Texas. Stanley is on active parole in Texas for residential burglary, according to police.

Officers said they determined that Stanley had stolen the motorcycle (a 2003 Yamaha R6) three hours earlier in San Francisco, and had been driving without a license.

Police also said found a hypodermic needle inside Stanley’s backpack. 

Police booked the suspect into the Santa Clara County Main Jail pursuant to the Texas warrant and also for suspicion of felony vehicle theft, resisting arrest, possession of a hypodermic needle, and driving without a license. 

There is no information at this time leading police to believe that Stanley is connected to any residential burglaries or other crimes in Palo Alto.

Anyone with information about this incident or this suspect is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be e-mailed topaloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984.