Crime blotter 1/23/13

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.

Wednesday, Jan. 23

Attempted Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 500 West Dexter Avenue regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. The victim stated her husband, Bill Thomason, attempted to run her over with his black SUV during a verbal argument. The victim said she was standing in the driveway and Thomason drove toward her. She said she ran into the residence while Thomason chased her in the vehicle. Officers were able to contact witnesses to the crime. While en route to the call for service, an additional officer saw the vehicle Thomason was driving and initiated a traffic stop. Thomason was taken into custody without further incident. He was booked at the Tulare County Main Jail.

Auto Theft
Officers were dispatched to the police department regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim stated subject(s) took her white 2003 Chevy Cavalier from the 200 block of South Kessing Street.

Auto Theft
Officers were dispatched to a residence in the 100 block of South H Street regarding a stolen vehicle. The victim stated Hector Pena Jr., 32, took his silver 1979 Pontiac Trans Am. The victim stated Pena did not have permission to take the vehicle. Additional investigation determined that Pena was seen with the vehicle in the area of East Miranda Avenue. Officers later located the vehicle at approximately 5:50 p.m. near the Porterville Municipal Airport. The vehicle was occupied by Pena and he was taken into custody after fighting with officers. The vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim.

Burglary
Officers were dispatched Monache High School regarding a burglary. The vice-principal stated today between 11:10 a.m. and 12:05 p.m., three students entered the gym locker room and broke into multiple students’ lockers. The students took cell phones and cash. The students were identified, arrested and booked at the Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility.

Strong Arm Robbery
Officers were dispatched to the TCSD Substation to contact a victim of robbery. The victim stated that at about 7 p.m., he was walking in the area of Third Street and Willow Avenue when he was approached by two suspects. One suspect brandished a knife and demanded property at which time the victim gave the suspect a cell phone. The victim provided a detailed description of both suspects which was broadcast to surrounding agencies. At about 9:18 p.m., a Porterville Police Department officer stopped a vehicle in the 100 block of North E Street and contacted the driver, Lisa Soto, who had two misdemeanor warrants. The passenger, identified as Ruben Gonzalez, 41, matched the description of one of the robbery suspects and was positively identified as one of the suspects. Gonzalez was arrested. Further investigation will be conducted to identify the second suspect. Gonzalez was later booked at the substation.

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