Siskiyou Sheriff issues press release on commercial burglary arrest
From the official Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page:
“A suspect recently arrested for a Weed-area burglary and theft has been linked by a Sheriff’s Deputy to a recent Dunsmuir commercial burglary. On Thursday, November 14, 2019 Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Deputy Ortiz responded to a call of a burglary that occurred at the Cornerstone Bakery, located in the 5000 block of Dunsmuir Avenue, Dunsmuir. The restaurant manager reported prior to her arrival someone entered the building while the business was closed and stole a large quantify of cash from the business. An investigation revealed a suspect implicated in a Weed area break-in and theft that occurred on Saturday, November 16 was linked to the Cornerstone Bakery burglary, which occurred during the early morning hours of November 14. That suspect, Mr. Lamont Darnell Brown, Jr., 27, most recently of Yreka, was identified as the key suspect in the Cornerstone Bakery burglary and theft and was questioned by Deputy Ortiz on Wednesday, November 20 while the suspect was still in-custody at the Siskiyou County Jail. Mr. Brown is awaiting a court hearing on the burglary and theft he was arrested for on November 16, 2019.
On Saturday, November 16 at about 8:32 a.m., Deputy Ortiz responded to a report of a burglary in vicinity of Alves Road and Hidden Meadow Drive, an unincorporated area located in the Weed area. Deputy Ortiz responded to the home and it was confirmed the residence was burglarized, the home ransacked, and property was obviously taken from the location by an unknown perpetrator(s). The original call was received from a neighbor after he found some of the victims’ mail discarded nearby. A motor vehicle, which was disabled, was located in the area that was later linked to a possible suspect. Deputies Stock and Moore responded to assist and it was discovered other buildings in the area had been burglarized. The assistance received from the victim’s neighbor in this case proved instrumental in helping investigators ultimately solve the case.
A possible suspect was identified during the investigation and a request was made for SCSO deputies in the Yreka area to search for the suspect, whom was previously known to SCSO investigators. SCSO Sergeant Towers and Deputy Thao located the suspect at a local Yreka motel and he was detained at about 11:25 a.m. on November 16. A subsequent search of the suspect and his motel room resulted in the recovery of stolen items confirmed to have been taken from the Weed-area home. Mr. Brown was on probation for a prior criminal conviction out of Sacramento County. Assistance was received from Yreka Police Department (YPD) officers and SCSO Deputy Gusaas, and additional stolen property was located in the suspect’s motel room. Stolen property recovered and linked to the Weed-area burglary included jewelry and coins.
Mr. Brown was arrested for November 16 burglary and theft. Drug paraphernalia and a quantity of marijuana were located in his possession at the time of his arrest. He was later booked at the Siskiyou County Jail. Mr. Brown attempted to smuggle methadone pills into the jail after the contraband was detected concealed in a body cavity. It is anticipated other charges related to grand theft, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance and attempting to smuggle the opioid into a jail will be filed against Mr. Brown by the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office.
Based on the investigation and evidence obtained by Deputy Ortiz, a criminal filing for the additional burglary and theft at the Cornerstone Bakery in Dunsmuir has been submitted to the Siskiyou County District Attorney.
According to Sheriff Jon Lopey, “Strong evidence in this case links Mr. Brown to the commercial burglary of the Cornerstone Bakery. Due to Deputy Ortiz’s sound analysis, persistent investigative efforts, and his recollection of prior crimes committed by the current suspect, coupled with the assistance of the restaurant’s owner and manager, he was able to decisively resolve this case. Further investigation is being conducted in this matter, including investigating possible associates of the key suspect in this case. Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact SCSO’s 24-hour Dispatch Center at (530) 841-2900.”
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