Tulare Sheriff’s Effort Results in Multiple Arrests

by Polly Kennedy , September 18, 2012

Due to the high number of thefts involving copper wire throughout Tulare County, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office conducted a three week long special detail that included detectives and personnel from the Tulare County Sheriff’s Agricultural Crimes Unit, Kern County Agricultural Crimes Unit, Tulare County Sheriff’s Community Based Officers, Tulare County Sheriff’s Tactical Enforcement Personnel and the Tulare County District Attorney’s office.

The focus of the detail were the rural areas hardest hit by thieves targeting local farmers and costing thousands of dollars in damage and repairs, as well as the recycling centers where the stolen material is being sold. The rural area was within Avenue 96 to Avenue 200 and Road 192 to the Kings County Line, with these areas chosen based on crime statistics mapping for the months of June, July and August of 2012.

Three operational phases were conducted with phase one consisting of saturation detail patrolling and making contacts and traffic stops in the rural areas, while phase two consisted of undercover details and intelligence gathering. Finally, phase three consisted of compliance checks of recycling centers.

Results from the detail included 15 arrests on fresh charges, nine arrests for misdemeanor warrants, one arrest for an outstanding felony warrant, and five citations for an array of offenses. Also during the sting, nine vehicles were towed, 130 subjects contacted and interviewed, a total of 56 suspicious vehicles checked, more than 150 traffic stops were made and about 20 recycle centers were contacted.

Arrests included five for being under the influence of narcotics, one arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, two arrests for felony possession of narcotics and six arrests of business owners of recycling centers on felony and misdeameanor charges relating to illegally purchasing copper wire belonging to a Public Utility company, failure to maintain proper record of transactions, failure to maintain certified scale, and failure to have required Weigh-Master license to purchase specified materials.

Arrests included:

Michael Murch, age 59 of Pixley, HS 11377 (Possession of a controlled substance).
Rafael Carranza, age 31 Tipton, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Mary Rocha, age55 of Porterville, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Jesus Venegas, age 22 of Earlimart, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Luis Orduno Torres, age 23 of Pixley, HS 11378 (Possession of a controlled substance for sale).
Manuel Garcia, age 47 of Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire).
Armie Agustin, age 40 of Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire).
Jose Baltazar, age 46 of Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire).
Jose Hernandez, age 44 of Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire).
Arturo Cabrera, age 45 of Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire).
Jimmy Ansiel, age 42 of Visalia, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Ismael Romero, age 36 of Porterville, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Jose Carranza, age 33 of Teviston, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
Juan Silva, age 39 of Tipton, HS 11550 (Under the influence of a controlled substance).
*Henry Sagastome, 27 yrs, Porterville, PC 496a(a) (Illegal purchase of public utility wire). Booked and released due to medical issues

Visalia Times Delta: Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Operation Targets Copper Thieves

KMPH: Copper Wire Theft Sting in Tulare County

Tulare Sheriff’s Effort Results in Multiple Arrests was last modified: January 11th, 2019 by admin