(Jan 02 2009) - Porterville Police Dept - Press Release
by Sgt. Larry Rodriguez - Porterville Police Dept :
On December 23, 2008, Detective Chris McGuire of the Porterville Police Department located and recovered a stolen vehicle in the area of Roche and Vandalia. The vehicle, a 2004 BMW, had been reported as stolen out of the Redondo Beach area. Immediately upon discovering the vehicle was stolen Detective McGuire began an investigation into the matter.
On January 2, 2009, at approximately 7:30 a.m. two search warrants were served as a result of Detective McGuire’s investigation. Investigators from the Tulare County Reduce Auto Theft Taskforce, Detectives from the Porterville Police Department’s General and Special Investigations Unit, and uniformed personnel from the patrol division served the search warrants, one in the 200 block of East Vandalia and the second in the 1900 block of East Crabtree. Upon searching the two residences investigators located property related to the stolen BMW, methamphetamine, and paraphernalia associated with the sales of controlled substances. Alejandro Sanchez and Jose Garcia were contacted at the residences and taken into custody without incident.
As the searches were being conducted an investigator with the taskforce observed Javier Ramos driving in the area of Jaye Street and Highway 190. Due to Ramos having been identified as a suspect in this matter, Ramos’ vehicle was stopped and he was taken into custody without incident.
Sanchez was booked on charges of auto theft and committing a felony while on bail. Garcia was booked on charges of possessing a controlled substance for sales, and Ramos was charged with auto theft and receiving stolen property. All three were booked with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department.
Anyone with any information regarding auto theft is urged to contact Porterville Police Detective Chris McGuire at (559) 713-4554.
