Suspect arrested after stealing Taher food service van

A suspect has been charged with felony auto theft and resisting arrest in connection with the theft of a Taher Catering Services delivery van.

Police arrested Ryan Ollis, 31, at 4:47 p.m. on Monday.  He was driving the van when detectives pursued the van to Cedar and Shields.

The suspect had attempted to flee the scene, but was taken into custody shortly after.

Ollis is now in jail, and the van has been returned; however, the back door of the vehicle is broken.

The delivery van was stolen from the Fresno City College campus on March 23. The catering service was hoping to purchase a new van and retire the van after 17 years of service.

Anita Handy, food service director, said she and other employees used their cars to make deliveries after the van was stolen.

Although the vehicle has been returned, employee Shawn Greco said he still uses his car for some deliveries.

“I still don’t want to drive it,” Greco said. “I don’t know what was going on in there.”

Handy said she is not sure how the theft could have been prevented.  She said that some things just happen.

“If I can answer that,” Handy said about how to stop future theft, “I can be rich.”