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The serial leaf blower thief and his accomplice were arrested after leading police in a high-speed chase that evacuated two Huntington Beach schools on Friday.
When it began Friday morning, officers responded to an 8:45am call for the theft of a leaf blower that just happened, according to the Huntington Beach Police Department.
Officers have arrived in the areas of Yorktown Avenue and Golden West Street. There, two suspects (one of whom were convicted felons) allegedly stole a leaf blower from a gardener’s truck.
The suspect escaped when police arrived at the scene, but the witnesses were able to provide an explanation of the suspected vehicle. About 30 minutes later, officers spotted the car the witness explained and tried to pull them, but the suspect cornered and began a chase.
“As the pursuit approached downtown, officers cancelled it due to the suspect’s unstable driving,” the police department said. “It was later revealed that the vehicle was abandoned, but the witness pointed the officers in the direction of the suspect.”
Police did not specifically state where the vehicle was found, noting that this was when two schools evacuated for “safety reasons” while officers searched for the suspect. The two schools involved were Dwyer Middle School and Smith Elementary School.
After a private time, officers set up containment and then found and arrested both suspects. Additionally, police found a loaded gun and a stolen leaf blower in the car.
The inside of the car can be seen here after the officers arrest a series of leaf blower thieves and his accomplices. June 2025. (Huntington Beach PD) A loaded firearm can be seen here after officers arrested a serial leaf blower thief and his accomplice. June 2025 (Huntington Beach PD)
Police have identified the suspects as 27-year-old Clayton Roman of Florida and 28-year-old Cooston Puliam of Texas. The department said Roman, a convicted felon, has a wide criminal history, including “arrest in Florida and an aggressive warrant for Texas drugs in connection with theft of a leaf blower.”
Roman was ultimately booked for a felony of firearms, felony avoidance, petty theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, delay or obstruction of an officer, and felony of possessing a conspiracy to prevent possession of baggage in the public. Puliam was reserved for a conspiracy to commit crimes and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription.
Police said an investigation is ongoing.
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