Full Notification

WALNUT CREEK POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Chief of Police Joel Bryden
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Friday, February 10, 2012 For Immediate Release
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WCPD Case Number: 12-4900

Date / Time Occurred: 2-10-12 at approximately 0500 hours

Location: 1500 Block of Sunnyvale Avenue, Walnut Creek

Crime Description / Code: Auto theft /VC 10851
Auto burglary/PC 459

Suspect: See below

Press Release Prepared By: Sergeant Cashion
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ARRESTED:

PENA, Mario Alberto; HMA, 27 years old from Concord, Ca. Charges: Auto theft (VC 10851), Burglary (PC 459), Possession of Stolen Property (PC 496), Conspiracy (PC 182) and a parole hold was placed on him. He is currently being housed at Martinez Detention Facility.

HERNANDEZ, Heriberto; HMA, 18 years old from Concord, Ca. Charges: Auto theft (VC 10851), Burglary (PC 459), Possession of Stolen Property (PC 496), Conspiracy (PC 182). He is currently being held at Martinez Detention Facility.

GOMEZ, Isaac Melgoza; HMA, 39 years old transient. Charges: Possession of Stolen Property (PC 496) and Conspiracy (PC 182). He is currently being held at Martinez Detention Facility.

PEREZ, Juan Franco; HMA, 35 years old from Concord, Ca. Charges: Possession of Stolen Property (PC 496) and Conspiracy (PC 182). He is currently being held at Martinez Detention Facility.

JUVENILE; 17 year old, female. Charges: Possession of Stolen Property (PC 496) and possession of narcotics paraphernalia (HS 11364). Released to her parents.


INVESTIGATION:

Early this morning, at approximately 0500 hours, a resident woke up to the sound of his vehicle being started. He ran outside and saw a suspect stealing his vehicle (later identified as Mario PENA). PENA fled in the victim’s vehicle. The victim then saw two other suspects run from his neighbor’s driveway (later identified as Heriberto HERNANDEZ and Isaac GOMEZ). He gave chase and one of the suspects dropped a back pack which had been stolen from the neighbor’s vehicle. The victim lost sight of the suspects and called the police department. Officers responded to the area and found HERNANDEZ hiding. HERNANDEZ was arrested without incident. Officers also found GOMEZ’ vehicle parked nearby and impounded it.

Approximately, two hours later a Walnut Creek Police Officer spotted GOMEZ in a different vehicle with several other occupants heading onto Interstate 680. The officer followed the vehicle while waiting for additional Walnut Creek Officers to respond. Officers then performed a high risk stop on Highway 24 near Pleasant Hill Road. Officers arrested GOMEZ, PENA, PEREZ and a female juvenile from the vehicle without incident.

At approximately 1100 hours, Walnut Creek Detectives located and recovered the stolen vehicle unoccupied in Concord.