On Sunday, August 4, 2019, at approximately 10:30 a.m., deputies from the Wasco City Substation located a vehicle illegally parked in the fire lane at the Walmart at 401 North Central Avenue in Wasco. Deputies contacted the driver, who was identified as 33-year-old Raymond Pruitt of Hanford, CA. Deputies also contacted Pruitt’s passenger, who was identified as 36-year-old Shandra Smith of Visalia, CA. Pruitt had two felony warrants for his arrest, and Smith had one felony warrant for her arrest.
In the vehicle, deputies located several personal and business checks which did not belong to Pruitt or Smith. Several checks were altered or forged. Deputies also found several identification and social security cards which did not belong to Pruitt or Smith.
Pruitt and Smith were arrested and booked into the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Central Receiving Facility for their felony warrants and open charges of forgery, possession of ten or more personal documents with intent to defraud, and conspiracy to commit a crime. Pruitt was also booked for possession of drug paraphernalia, illegally parking in a fire lane, and unauthorized possession a handicap placard.
Anyone with additional information regarding this investigation (2019-00125278) is requested to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040.
