Originally published 4-22-20 via Nixle
by the Victorville Police Department:
“On April 22, 2020, Deputy A. Curtis, responded to a petty theft that had just occurred at CVS Pharmacy on Palmdale Road. The caller reported the male suspect had walked out of the store approximately 5 minutes before the call. Within an hour of Curtis responding to the robbery, two other robberies were reported with similar circumstances at Circle K on Mojave Drive and Dollar General on Palmdale Road.
Deputy Curtis put out a “Be On the Look Out” (BOLO) for the suspect vehicle, a dark-colored Mazda MZ6 with license plates belonging to a different vehicle, being driven by a white adult male. Upon seeing the BOLO, Deputy J. Gice, with the Victor Valley Sheriff’s Station, contacted Curtis with information on the suspect. Gice had been investigating a robbery and burglary at Igles De Restoration church; both believed to have been committed by the same suspect. During the robbery, the suspect had been confronted by someone at the church. He brandished a pry bar in an aggressive manner leading the victim to fear for his safety. After a short physical altercation, the victim wrestled the pry bar away from the suspect, and the suspect fled. Gice had information leading him to believe he and Curtis were looking for the same suspect, Jeremy Thomas Stephens.
Jeremy Stephens was located at Bonanza Road and Petaluma Road, where he had been staying. During the search of Stephens’ vehicle and the trailer home he was staying in, deputies recovered multiple items from the church thefts, as well as several retail thefts. The total estimated value of the items stolen was more than $3900. Deputies also located suspected methamphetamine and paraphernalia associated with the sales and use of narcotics.
Stephens was arrested and booked at High Desert Detention Center for robbery, burglary, possession of a controlled substance for sale, retail theft, transportation of a controlled substance, retail theft with intent to sell, and forging/altering vehicle registration.
Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Deputy A. Curtis at the Victorville Police Department at (760) 241-2911 or Sheriff’s Dispatch at (760) 956-5001. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78CRIME (27463), or you may leave the information on the We-Tip website at www.wetip.com.”
