On Wednesday, November 19, 2014, Fremont Police apprehended a residential burglary suspect responsible for three incidents in our community.
Our first call came in the south end of town at approximately 12:05 p.m. A resident on Havasu Street reported that a Hispanic male, mid to late 20’s, 6’00” tall, approximately 190lbs, dressed in a black hoodie and carrying a green backpack, rang his doorbell. The homeowner did not answer the door. The subject then entered his rear yard and attempted to force open the sliding glass door, but could not gain entry because it was locked. The homeowner then called Fremont Police. Several units responded to the area and a perimeter was established. Leitch Elementary School was located within the perimeter and temporarily placed on lockdown following all District protocols during the search. In addition a Milpitas PD K9 responded to assist with the neighborhood search. The search concluded at approximately 1:20 p.m. and the suspect was not located.
The second incident occurred at approximately 12:25 p.m., when an alarm sounded at a residence on Iroquois Way (around the corner from Havasu Street). Officers checked the area but did not locate the any suspicious people.
The third incident occurred at approximately 2:05 p.m., when a resident in the north end of town on Romilly Way heard a noise and saw a male wearing a grey hat, walking around his rear yard. The resident lost sight of the male and then heard a noise coming from his garage area. He immediately called Fremont Police. The suspect then forced entry into the house as officers were arriving on scene. The homeowner, who was now hiding in a bedroom, yelled to the suspect. The suspect then attempted to flee and was met by the arriving officers outside the residence. The suspect was identified as 28 year old Joel Efferson out of San Lorenzo. Efferson matched the description of the suspect from the Havasu Street attempt and was positively identified by the victim.
Detectives later interviewed Efferson and determined he was also responsible for the attempt on Iroquois Way, but was scared off when the alarm sounded.
Efferson was arrested on charges of burglary and booked into the Santa Rita Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment on Friday, November 21, 2014, at the Fremont Courthouse.
