Two suspects arrested, one remains at large in jewelry store robbery
Two suspects arrested, one remains at large in jewelry store robbery
By: Carin Enovijas, Tehachapi News Editor
Topics: robbery, kcsd, arrest, weapons
Posted by editor Wed Jan 24, 2007 17:42:43 PST
Viewed 1775 times
0 responses 12 comments According to Sgt. Laura Lopez of the Kern County Sheriff’s Department’s Tehachapi substation, two Los Angeles area men were arrested today while a third suspect escaped during the armed robbery of Delgado Jewelers, located at 1121 Valley Blvd. at the intersection of Tucker Road.
Eduardo Valdez Solano, 28, from Ontario, and Jorge Espinoza, 46, from Huntington Park, were both found armed with handguns, and in possession - and wearing - some of the stolen items. However, Lopez said two of the suspects surrendered to deputies as they were caught leaving the store just as the deputies arrived in response to a silent alarm.
The third suspect escaped on foot in spite of a speedy, multi-unit response from local law enforcement, who according to Lopez, conducted a perimeter search from home to home, exceeding approximately a one square mile radius east of the scene.
“Preliminary investigation shows the three suspects entered the store and detained three store owners and a customer at gunpoint. The suspects tied up two of the store owners with duct tape then gathered jewelry and cash before fleeing the store. At this time, it appears most of the jewelry was recovered. Investigators are still trying to determine if all the cash has been recovered,” stated a press release issued by Sgt. Lopez.
Lopez described the two weapons confiscated as a Walther BB gun or pellet gun and a 45 caliber handgun. She also said that the suspects' vehicle, a white Ford Aerostar van registered out of Los Angeles, was found and impounded for further investigation.
“The value of recovered items, judging from what I saw, I would say was in excess of $30,000 worth of jewelry. It’s a substantial amount and they’re very fortunate they got back what they did,” Lopez said, adding that it was also fortunate that no one was hurt.
Lopez identified the escaped suspect as a Hispanic male in his 20s, approximately 5-foot 8-inches tall. Discarded clothing worn by the fleeing suspect was discovered by deputies during the hours-long perimeter search.
Lopez said that all Tehachapi area KCSD units responded from both city and county susbstation, as well as some off duty personnel in the area. The Stallion Springs Police Department, the California Highway Patrol and two units from Mojave also responded to the call for assistance with the perimeter search, as well as KCSD’s Air-1 helicopter unit out of Bakersfield.
| Send to a Friend | Report a Violation |
Wed Jan 24, 2007 18:06:41 PST
In about 6 mos. we will have our own City Police Department. Will we get the same response from them?
Wed Jan 24, 2007 23:13:28 PST
I heard that Henry's was robbed today, also. Was it another group of L.A.-er's?
Thu Jan 25, 2007 07:12:39 PST
OldTechachapiNavtive,
After emailing the Chief last week, I believe we should get a very close if not same response from the CHP, Sheriff and other local Police. I hope I am right but only time will tell.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 08:48:39 PST
Lately there has been a lot of robberies, are these criminals from Tehachapi, or are they making a stop here on the way to or from LA?
I won't make any judgements about Tehachapi's new Police Department until I see them in action. As Tehachapi grows we will inevitably need our own police Department and Fire Department. I am going to back them up 100% as they fight to protect us.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:11:24 PST
Sparks, I completely agree. Whether people think Tehachapi needs city services today or not, no one can argue that with the way the town is growing there will be a need for them in the future. Do people think it is going to be cheaper to build facilities and hire staff in five years than it will be now?
Would people like to wait until there are serious problems in response times before the city starts doing something to address it?
I commend the city for being forward-thinking enough to know that in order to have a positive future for public safety the time to plan for it and implement it is now.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 10:18:21 PST
In the past 2 weeks there have been 4 armed robberies in Arvin, 2 in Cal City and the one here in Tehachapi. From what I have read the criminals are coming up from the Los Angeles area with the belief that we are under served by our local law enforcement agency. Also, I'm sure that the individuals that robbed our jewelry store never expected a small town community to have a silent alarm. I guess they should have thought a little harder. I have to applaud our local agencies for their response to this incident and others that have occurred in our area. Lastly, at least they don't have far to travel to begin serving their sentence at CCI.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 13:18:25 PST
I have to disagree with the above commit about the City of Tehachapi being forward thinkers. How will going from a Sheriff's department with SWAT, CSI, Detectives, and a force of about 15+ to a City police department with say 2 guys on at a time, paying the County to provide help, forward thinking? Then you have the fire department thing, going from everything the County Fire Department gives us for $0 to a young, inexperienced, nepotism plagued, department for $1.5 million and still have to pay the County Fire Department to help. Yes the County Sheriff Department was charging us an arm and a leg. The County Fire is not doing that. It's time to pick the LOCAL Department we want the most and put all our money and effort to make it the best we can. Then down the road IF/WHEN Tehachapi City gets as big as all you hope, we can do the other. This City Police Department will be Caudles own little stormtroopers that he can have "Local Control' over. He will pick and choose who will get a ticket and who does not just like he does with code enforcement. I don't know about you, but "Local Control" of that type is not what I want in my law enforcement and safety. Now if there was no Cadule like influence on it, I would change my tune.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 13:26:51 PST
Those recources you mention will still be available to us, if we need them. Having one doesn't mean the other will drop off of the face of the earth.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 13:30:02 PST
Your right they will be there, at a cost to us and responding from where? Less for more!
Thu Jan 25, 2007 13:34:58 PST
I have to agree with "OLD" on this one. Going from the Sheriff's Department to a City Department MAY have been a good idea. If they will spend the money and time to make it right. They are already cutting corners and it's not even here. There is no way the City can provide what the County Fire Department does at the same cost. Spend that Fire Department money on making US a 1st class Police Department. On top of that look at how the City Fire Department has hired it's work force. Do you want that in your law enforcement? It's to bad we already have it in the City Fire Department, but hey what can you say. It was done in hiding and was not outed till now.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 13:43:13 PST
I guess this is where we have to disagree. I don't mind paying some today to make the city's tomorrow a little better. I'm interested in looking at things over the long haul.
Thu Jan 25, 2007 14:22:42 PST
It's not all about the money, your level of service will go down for years to come. You are willing to pay more now for tomorrow. Are you willing to risk your safety today for the city of tomorrow?
