From Niesha Lofing:
Police have linked two alleged thieves who rammed an officer's patrol car head-on this morning with six vehicle burglaries in a Rocklin neighborhood.
A resident called 911 about 3:19 a.m. and reported seeing two people rifling through a parked car on the 5900 block of Tanus Circle, Rocklin police Lt. Lon Milka said.
As officers responded to the area, a Lexus sedan with its lights off was heading in the opposite direction.
"In order to avoid capture, it rammed into one of our patrol cars head-on," Milka said.
The two men in the stolen Lexus got out and ran in opposite directions.
Officers, with the help of K-9 units and other agencies, found the driver and arrested him.
Damien Joseph Galpren (left photo), 19, is being held in lieu of $60,000 bail in Placer County Jail in Auburn on suspicion of assault on a peace officer, car theft, receiving stolen property, drunken driving and burglary.
The second suspect has not been caught.
The officer involved in the collision was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Milka said the officer will undergo more X-rays today.
The airbag in his patrol car deployed during the crash, Milka said.
The officer's identity has not been released.
Milka said the two men are thought to be responsible for at least six other vehicle break-ins in the neighborhood.
"They were out doing that for quite a period of time," he said.
Police are searching for the second suspect, described as a white male in his early 20s, about 5-foot-10, and possibly suffering from a head injury.
"It looked like his head may have impacted the windshield," Milka said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Rocklin police at (916) 625-5400.
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