According to the Milpitas Police Department, “On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at approximately 4:49 P.M., Milpitas Police Officers observed 20-year-old male, Antioch resident Derial Antoine Royster and 23-year-old Richmond resident Maurice Anthony Cotton Jr., looking into parked vehicles at the Ulferts Shopping Center, located on Barber Lane, Milpitas.” The patrolling officer watched as Royster smashed a window on a vehicle in order to remove a visible purse from inside.
With the suspects running to a waiting car, both Derial Royster and Maurice Cotton got into a 2015 Kia Sportage, driven by 18-year-old male, Walnut Creek resident Damian Greyson Britt.
The suspects fled in a Kia Sportage
The officers followed the car into San Jose, where a high risk vehicle stop was conducted. All three occupants were placed under arrest without incident. As the officers continued their investigation, they located the purse taken during the burglary inside the Kia Sportage, as well as other items including a laptop, camera, and a cell phone.
Once these items were discovered, the MPD started a still on-going investigation into the possibility of these items and others were stolen in other car burglaries that may have occurred in the area.
All three suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail for burglary, criminal conspiracy, possession of stolen property, and possession of burglary tools. Damian Britt was additionally booked for possession of a controlled substance and driving with a suspended license.
Derial Royster is the “most experienced” criminal among the three. Available records show that in 2013, when he was 18, he was arrested by Oakland Police for possession of a controlled substance on December 12. Just 8 days later, they arrested him again for robbery. He was living in Oakland at that time. He faced robbery charges again in April of 2014. In June of that year he was in San Joaquin County when he was arrested for giving false information to an officer. Then in July San Leandro Police arrested him for petty theft, and making unauthorized paper money, or counterfeiting.
Oakland Police charged him again with robbery and giving false information to an officer on January 16 of this year. Then on September 8, just a week prior to his latest arrest, he was arrested by Antioch Police for possession of stolen property and carrying a loaded firearm. Royster reported living in Antioch at that time. He, along with Kevon Watson of Oakland, were picked up at the corner of Lone Tree Way and Putnam Street at 9 pm. Watson was also charged with carrying a loaded weapon and stolen property, along with possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.
Records show that Maurice Cotton was arrested in May of 2012 on a modification of a juvenile order, in December for an unspecified warrant, and in February 2013 for petty theft.
The Milpitas Police Department is asking that if you believe you were the recent victim of a burglary and may be the owner of some of the additional property recovered, or if you have any information regarding this investigation or other similar incidents that may have occurred, please call the Milpitas Police Department at (408) 586-2400.
