Photo: 500 block of Appaloosa (Google maps)
ANGELS CAMP – At 3:00 AM on Saturday the CCSO received a call concerning a possible burglary in progress in the 2500 block of Appaloosa Road.
Arriving deputies found the owner of the burglarized home blocking his driveway with his vehicle. The owner said suspects broke down his door and one had since left, but 64-year-old Burson resident Steven Townsend remained on scene and was arrested for burglary and conspiracy.
That evening around 56:30 another burglary call from Appaloosa came in, this time from the 500 block. No suspects were on scene, but witnesses gave a vehicle description and license plate number.
Then at 9:30 PM on the same day, an officer from ACPD saw a vehicle matching the description given earlier and stopped it at the Chevron station. The car contained times from one of the morning burglaries.
40-year-old Sonora resident Stephen Belt was arrested and charged with burglary, conspiracy, drug possession (meth) and possession of paraphernalia. In addition he had 3 warrants out on him from Tuolumne County.
39-year-old Riki Eltringham, a passenger in the vehicle, was arrested on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant.
The CCSO says, “All three subjects were booked into the Calaveras County Jail. Deputies are conducting follow-up to the burglary reports. If anyone was in the area of Appaloosa Road on 4-7-18 during the day and has information regarding these investigations, please contact Sheriff Dispatch at (209) 754-6500”
