Verizon Wireless stores in the East Bay area cities of Vallejo, Fairfield, and Vacaville had been hit with recent thefts from suspects who had grabbed merchandise and run out before anyone could stop them. What the store employees did get was a good look at them, and descriptions of the culprits had been communicated to all area store employees.
On Monday afternoon, at about 5:30 pm, employees at the Napa location noticed that three young men matching the descriptions were in their store. An employee called police, and officers were quick to arrive, getting there at 5:40. They even witnessed the suspects grabbing five phones and running out the door.
The first one, identified as Artis Crenshaw, 24, was grabbed by one officer, and put up a fierce fight against getting caught. Several citizen bystanders stepped in to help, and Crenshaw was taken into custody. The other two men ran down Trancas, and officers gave chase. One of them, Bequandre James Davis, 23, was caught about a block away as he got to the off ramp from the St Helena Highway. Two officers caught and detained him there. The third suspect crossed the street towards Target, crossed the bridge and headed towards the Marriot Hotel. Pursuing officers lost sight of him. A subsequent search of the area was conducted, but he was never located.
All of the stolen phones were located with Artis Crenshaw. The young man from Antioch was also found to be in possession of cocaine, and had several outstanding warrants. He had been arrested in September by Antioch police for robbery and carrying a switchblade knife. Records show additional arrests going back to 2009, including charges of drug possession and being under the influence, loitering with intent to sell, probation violations and a robbery in 2013. In January of 2012 he was charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, a firearm, ammunition, being a felon in possession of a loaded firearm, and resisting arrest.
In this case, Crenshaw was charged with grand theft for the $3100.00 worth of phones, shoplifting, conspiracy, assault likely to cause great bodily injury, resisting arrest, and possession of a narcotic controlled substance. Bequandre Davis, of Pittsburg, was initially detained, but not arrested. He remains a suspect in the other Verizon robberies, along with the missing third man.
