Police Briefs

Three teens was arrested Thursday by police detectives on charges connected to a home burglary in the city’s west side.

Jose Ivan Garcia, 17, faces eight counts of burglary of a habitation, one count of attempted burglary and three counts of engaging in organized criminal activity, police spokesman Eddie Garcia said. His bond was set at $300,000.

Garcia is accused of a burglarizing a home on the 1700 block of Villanova Avenue, according to police reports.

“Two other teens ran away from the area and were later detained in the area of Rosalee Street,” Eddie Garcia said. “The other two (16-year-olds) were transported to the juvenile detention center in San Benito.”

Police detectives believe Garcia and the two teens burglarized homes from Jan. 9 to Jan. 31. The case remains under investigation.

Man forces woman to strip at gunpoint

A teen woman reported to police detectives early Thursday that a man at gunpoint forced her to undress.

At 5:30 a.m., police officers were dispatched to a Stripes convenience store on the 100 block of Billy Mitchell Boulevard in reference to a 18-year-old woman asking for help, police spokesman Eddie Garcia said.

“Police arrived at the Stripes convenience store and found the woman crying,” he said.

She told police officers Jose Flores, 19, had taken her by force to the Conquistador apartment complex on the 300 block of Billy Mitchell Boulevard.

Flores allegedly pointing a shotgun at the woman and drove towards the apartment complex, according to police reports.

“He then forced her out of the car and into the apartment where he forcibly removed her clothes,” Garcia said. “The victim at one point managed to strike Flores who got distracted and was able to get out from the apartment.”

She managed to flee from the apartment complex and went to a convenience store where she called 9-1-1.

“An officer was able to locate Flores at the apartment complex and was immediately taken into custody,” Garcia said. “Officers were also able to locate the shotgun and was booked into evidence”

Flores was charged with separate counts of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm, according to police reports.

His bond was set at $502,500.

Car crash results in four arrests

A one-vehicle accident reported Wednesday morning in the city’s east side sent four people to jail on charges ranging from possession of marijuana to resisting arrest.

Police officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Central Boulevard in reference to an accident involving a Chevrolet car striking a palm tree, police spokesman Eddie Garcia said.

“A citizen reported that the occupant of the vehicle had fled on foot with some beer cans,” he said. “An officer in the area saw the man later identified as Hector Garibay.”

He allegedly ran into a parking lot on the 2300 block of Central Boulevard, according to police reports.

Police officers reported finding a .38-caliber pistol and a driver’s license belonging to Garibay near a fence where Garibay had been spotted running, Garcia said.

“Officers ended at the Siesta Motel located at the 2200 block of Central Boulevard, where Garibay was located,” he said. “Garibay was arrested as well as three other people that were at the Siesta Motel where police found drug paraphernalia and marijuana.”

Also taken into custody were Ana Maria Beckes, 22, Joel Robert Cruz, 25, and Ernestina Garcia, 17, according to police reports. The three were charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to jail logs.

Garibay was charged with felon in possession of a firearm, failure to comply upon striking a fixed object, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of cocaine, evading arrest, resisting arrest, resisting search, and resisting transportation, according to jail logs.

His bond was set at $28,150. Garibay was being held Friday night at the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center in Olmito in lieu of bond.

Police briefs compiled by Herald reporter Jose Borjon