Crime Blotter 05/30/12

Information below is provided to The Recorder by the Porterville Police Department. It is noted that only arrests are reported and the suspects have not been found guilty of any crime.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Vehicle Burglary
Officers responded to the parking lot of Target regarding a vehicle burglary. The victim reported unknown suspect(s) forced entry into his 2006 Ford F250 and took his touch screen stereo. The suspect(s) also punched the ignition in an attempt to steal the truck.

Burglary Arrest
Officers responded to a residence in the 2000 block of West Della to attempt to contact April Sterling (40), who is wanted in connection with this case which was investigated yesterday. Sterling was contacted, provided a full confession and was arrested. She was booked into the county jail.

Burglary / Check Fraud / Warrant Arrest
Officers responded to Bank of Sierra on Olive regarding a fictitious check. The witness stated that within the last couple of weeks a female, identified as Kristina Pounds, 40, had deposited a $15,000 check; however a hold was placed on the deposit. After five days Pounds was able to withdraw $5,000, however the next day the bank was notified the check was fictitious. A few days after the bank was notified Pounds returned to the bank and was questioned about the check and responded that it would take her 20 years to pay it back. Officers contacted Pounds at her residence and obtained a confession. She stated she received the check from an unknown person who requested she deposit the check and send a partial payment back to him in Canada. Pounds was aware it was a fraud but proceeded with the transaction. She was arrested without incident and later booked into the county jail. While at Pounds’ residence officers also contacted Steven Hall, 40, who was found to have an outstanding misdemeanor warrant. He was also arrested and later cited out from the Police Department.

Theft
Officers were dispatched to 1290 W. Henderson Ave., Food 4 Less, regarding a subject being detained for shoplifting. Officers contacted Loss Prevention who made a citizen’s arrest on Christopher Gamboa, 21. Gamboa was detained outside the store after concealing three cans of beer and exiting the store without payment. Gamboa was transported to PPD where he was processed, cited and released.

Vehicle Burglary
Officers were dispatched to the New Life Center Church, 2012 W. Morton Ave., in regard to a vehicle burglary. Unknown suspect(s) forced entry into the victim’s vehicle by shattering a side window and stole a purse.

Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
Officers were dispatched to the Tulare County Government Plaza in regards to a suspicious vehicle parked on the east side of the business. Upon arrival two subjects were located in the vehicle and were engaged in sexual intercourse. During the investigation the male subject was identified as 20-year-old Alexander Sanchez of Earlimart, and a 16-year-old female from Porterville. Both subjects admitted to having sexual intercourse and the male admitted to knowing the female was only 16 years of age. The juvenile was released to her parents, Sanchez was processed at the police department and released with a citation.

Warrant Arrest
Officers contacted Jorge Osorio in the area of Mulberry Avenue and Wisconsin Street. He was found to have an outstanding warrant, for which he was cited and released in the field.

Residential Burglary
Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of East Worth Avenue in regard to a residential burglary. Officers contacted the victim who advised over the past four hours his residence had been burglarized. Taken was a television, a handgun and a safe.

Assist Lindsay Police Department
Officers responded with Lindsay P.D. to a residence in the 2100 block of West Aurora Avenue in an attempt to arrest a 15-year-old male for an attempted murder committed in their city. Officers made contact with the suspect and he was arrested without incident.

Warrant Arrest
Officers contacted Justin Weeks, 18, in the area of Morton Avenue and Capitola Street. Weeks had an active no bail warrant for theft. Weeks was taken into custody and booked into the county jail.

Home Invasion Robbery / Violation of Probation
Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 500 block of West Union Avenue in regards to a residential burglary that just occurred. The victim advised she confronted a white male juvenile who was standing in her living room wearing only shorts. The victim stated that the male fled out the rear of the residence and was last seen running eastbound on Union Avenue. Officers arrived on scene and located a pair of tennis shoes on the dirt driveway directly beneath a kitchen window. Officers also located a vehicle in the driveway that had been burglarized. Officers located a GPS device that had been removed from the glove box of the car lying near Union Avenue where the suspect was observed fleeing. The victim provided a physical description for the suspect and the officer believed he knew the identity of the 17 year old suspect. Officers responded to the suspect’s residence and located his ankle monitor which had been cut off, lying on the front porch of his residence. His mother was contacted and led Officers to his bedroom where he was contacted lying on top of the bed wearing only shorts, with dirty feet. When confronted with the evidence, he confessed to burglarizing the vehicle and entering the victim’s residence with the intent of committing a theft. The suspect was arrested and later booked at the Juvenile Detention facility.

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