Crime blotter 2/23/13

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.

Friday, Feb. 22

Vehicle Burglary
A citizen reported an overnight theft from his vehicle in the 1400 block of North Cottage Street. Items missing included a wallet, CD player, amplifier and miscellaneous items. A second vehicle burglary was reported later in the same area and is likely related. Both cases remain under investigation.

Burglary / Possession of Stolen Property / Parole Violation / DUI / Hit and Run
Officers responded to Khol’s regarding a theft. The suspect was seen circling the parking lot waiting to pick up a female conspirator. The suspect, Michael Suarez, 23, fled in the vehicle and failed to yield for a traffic stop. No pursuit was made and the officer returned to Khol’s where he arrested two additional associates of Suarez who were in possession of stolen property. One of the suspects, Malcolm Hoegh, 50, was also on parole for burglary. The other was a female adult, Stephanie Rossel Ballard, 32. At approximately 5:31 p.m., citizens reported a hit and run traffic collision at Heritage Avenue and Newcomb Street. The vehicle description matched the suspect vehicle from Khol’s and had crashed into a brick wall. The suspect, Suarez, fled and was later found in the brush along the Tule River where he surrendered to a police K-9. All suspects were booked and the stolen property was recovered. One female associate is still being sought by police.

Auto Theft
Officers investigated an auto theft report in the 200 block of West School Avenue. The victim’s black 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe was taken sometime during the night. The victim reported that he was missing door/ignition key, which he believed had fallen off of his key ring. The vehicle was later recovered in the area of Grand Avenue and Douglas Street.

Residential Burglary / Stolen Vehicle Located
Officers responded to a burglary in progress in the 900 block of East Willow Avenue. A suspect vehicle was seen by witnesses leaving the area. A residence was ransacked. The suspect vehicle was described as an older gray Chevrolet Van. Shortly after this incident, citizens reported seeing suspicious juveniles in a similar van in the 100 block of South Villa Street. Citizens obtained the license plate number and the van had been reported as a stolen vehicle in Orosi. An officer spotted the van traveling north on Villa Street near Olive Avenue. The vehicle immediately began evading police and attempts to pursue were stopped due to public safety concerns. The vehicle was spotted again by an additional officer traveling south on Jaye Street and then turning west along the north bank of the Tule River. The vehicle got stuck and an occupant was seen fleeing from the vehicle. The stolen vehicle was recovered along with merchandise from the East Willow Avenue burglary. A perimeter was established; however, the suspect was not located. Further efforts to identify and return property will be forthcoming.

Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance
Officers conducted a welfare check of a pedestrian who was walking in the roadway on Prospect Street near Putnam Avenue. Tony Galindo, 40, had two arrest warrants and was also under the influence of a controlled substance. He was booked at the Porterville Substation.

Warrant Arrest
Officers contacted Robert Atchison at 1012 West Henderson Avenue. Atchison had four warrants for his arrest. Atchison was arrested and later booked at the TCSO Porterville Substation.

Public Intoxication
Officers responded to the 300 block of East Harrison Avenue regarding intoxicated subjects. As officers arrived, Juan Millan, 18, was contacted and was very intoxicated. Millan was arrested and later transported to the TCSO Main Jail.

DUI / Driving on a Suspended Driver License
Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Kanai Avenue and contacted the driver, Rickey Manley, 24, who was intoxicated. Manley was arrested for DUI and was booked at PPD.

You can follow police activity on the public safety scanner on The Porterville Recorder’s website: www.recorderonline.com.