Attempted Gator getaway in flip-flops lands man in jail

Police arrested a man Thursday afternoon on after allegedly attempting to escape from authorities.

Two men called police after they reportedly witnessed somebody get into the fenced-off maintenance area at The Duke at Rancho El Dorado Golf Course and attempt to steal a John Deere Gator utility vehicle. The two men told the individual, later identified as Kevin Ramirez, 22, they were calling the police and took a picture of Ramirez as he fled.

The two men flagged down a nearby Maricopa Police officer after making the initial call to 911 and informed the police they witnessed Ramirez hop a residential fence into a backyard nearby.

Police observed the photos taken by the men and were able to see Ramirez was wearing a white tank top, black shorts, backpack and “white flip-flop type shoes.”

According to the police report, officers located Ramirez in the backyard of a home on Anne Lane. He was reported to be wearing black boots at the time.

While arresting Ramirez, police discovered he had allegedly stolen the boots from the backyard. According to the report, he later stated he was “hoping I could get away” and was hiding in the yard because he “didn’t want to stop.”

Ramirez was booked into Pinal County Jail on expected charges of burglary in the third degree, theft and resisting arrest.