Porterville man suspect in Tehachapi heist

A 40-year-old Porterville man has been arrested for his alleged involvement in a Tehachapi residential burglary earlier in the week.

The incident occurred at 10:12 a.m. Thursday, at the Ranch House Motel in downtown Tehachapi. The Tehachapi Police Department reports that officers went to the hotel based on information that led them to believe a burglary suspect was staying in one of the rooms and was in possession of stolen property.

Police say that as officers tried to enter the motel room, one of the suspects, identified as 30-year-old Ashley Dane Wadkins of Tehachapi, fled from the room on foot. He was later found in a back yard in the 500 block of East E Street after about a 10-minute search. Officers recovered stolen property, taken during a residential burglary that occurred earlier in the week in the same block.

They also apprehended a second suspect, 40-year-old Michael David Waters of Porterville, in the motel room.

Wadkins, currently on probation for a September 2012 conviction for burglary resulting from a prior TPD arrest, is awaiting booking on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of a controlled substance, resisting an officer, and multiple outstanding arrest warrants.

Waters, currently on parole, is awaiting booking on suspicion of burglary, possession of stolen property, and violation of parole.