Provo man’s weeklong crime spree includes impersonating officer, slashing tires, police say

OREM, Utah — A Provo man arrested a week ago and accused of trying to force a teenager into his car, impersonating an officer and later crashing into a light pole was arrested again over the weekend and accused of new crimes, including slashing more than a dozen tires.

The cases involving Oscar Kolob Garcia-Castorena, 44, started about 6 p.m. on Oct. 24 when Orem police were called to the area of 500 South and 800 West on a report of a man “being aggressive with people, stating he was going to fight them,” according to a police booking affidavit. Witnesses told police that Garcia-Castorena “was attempting to get a 15-year-old girl in his vehicle and she was visibly upset by this.”

A nearby resident allowed the girl to go into his house to get away from Garcia-Castorena. But police say Garcia-Castorena followed and tried to enter the home.

“The surveillance camera recorded Oscar telling the homeowner multiple times he was a Provo police officer while attempting to further enter the residence. Oscar also made multiple statements threatening physical harm to the homeowner,” according to a second arrest report.

While police were still interviewing the alleged victims, emergency dispatchers received a call reporting that a man had run into a light pole with his truck and knocked it over. Responding officers found Garcia-Castorena behind the wheel and he appeared to be intoxicated, the affidavit states.

“Oscar was also the suspect in several suspicious person reports throughout the day where he was attempting to lure young women into his vehicle,” according to the affidavit.

In a separate case on Saturday, Orem police investigated multiple tires being slashed.

“In total, 12 separate victims with 17 different vehicles had 18 tires slashed for a total estimated loss of $2,600,” a third police affidavit states.

Detectives reported locating surveillance video that they say shows Garcia-Castorena slashing tires on two of the vehicles late Friday night.

It was a year ago, on Oct. 30, 2021, that police were called to the UCCU Center on the campus of Utah Valley University on a report of a man getting into a car that was occupied by a 17-year-old girl and kissing her without permission. “The victim estimated the suspect kissed her approximately 10 times” and also inappropriately touched her, a police booking affidavit alleges.

When questioned by police, “Garcia stated he hugged the suspect because he felt ‘she needed someone,'” police wrote in the affidavit. He was arrested in that case for investigation of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and banned from campus by the school.

Garcia-Castorena has been charged in 4th District Court for his current crimes with one case with DUI, disorderly conduct and giving false information to police. He was also arrested for investigation of criminal mischief, burglary, and impersonating an officer.