911 Calls Disrupted, 2 Suspects Arrested for Severing Telecommunications Lines
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PINOLE — Two suspects have been arrested for allegedly severing telecommunications lines to steal copper wiring. One additional suspect remains outstanding. The incident caused disruptions to 911 calls for three Contra Costa County cities and telecommunications at city departments.
In a prepared statement Pinole police said. “At approximately 7:20 p.m. on June 22 our communications was alerted to a disruption in our 911 and business lines.” Calls to 911 for Pinole, Hercules, and San Pablo were subsequently rerouted to the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office.
Pinole patrol units responded to an area where previous thefts of copper cable disabled 911 calls and business lines. As officers arrived three men fled towards a residential area.
Pinole officers established a perimeter with assistance from Hercules police. A Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office helicopter and K-9 unit joined the search. “This joint effort led to the successful apprehension of two suspects, with the third remaining at-large,” Pinole police said.
Telecommunications vandalism evidence was recovered. One of the suspects was found in possession of tools for cutting cables. Other cutting tools evidently discarded were found nearby.
The suspects got booked at Martinez Detention Facility. Daniel A. Mena-Diaz, 49, of Richmond, remains in custody at the West County Detention Facility in lieu of $20,000 bond. The other suspect arrested is Jesus F. Arias-Ayala, 31, of Hayward.
Arias-Ayala has multiple prior arrests on record, including an arrest for petty theft in a pending misdemeanor case. He has been arrested 21 times since 2017. Arias-Ayala’s previous arrests were for grand theft, petty theft, shoplifting, and possession of a controlled substance. Incidentally, Mena-Diaz was arrested in May for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
