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The front door window of the Santa Paula Times was broken during the vandalism spree |
SPPD: Window breaking spree ends
with arrest of three suspects
September 25, 2015
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A spree of breaking car and building windows ended early Wednesday when Santa Paula Police arrested three people on suspicion of vandalism.
According to Sgt. Cody Madison, the SPPD was notified at 1:48 a.m. with almost concurrent reports that vehicle windows had been broken on the 100 block of South Steckel Drive and the 200 block of South Olive Street.
The reporting parties told police they had been awakened by the sound of glass being smashed.
“That’s when,” said Madison, “officers figured something is up…it must be the same people,” vandalizing the vehicles.
As police responded to the area they observed a dark colored Jeep Cherokee driving in the opposite direction.
“It was almost 2 a.m. when you don’t see much traffic on the streets,” and suspicious police were able to detain the vehicle when a minor infraction was observed.
Once the Jeep was pulled over Madison said officers found crowbars and glass in the vehicle.
Also found said Sgt. Jimmy Fogata were two male juveniles 15 and 16 years old in the vehicle with 18-year-old Richard Magana, all residents of Santa Paula.
Fogata and other officers took the three into custody on suspicion of vandalism.
Madison said determining the extent of the damage is still being evaluated: “It’s a work in progress,” he said Wednesday afternoon as more reports were being written.
“They went all over town breaking windows,” at Isbell Middle School, Santa Paula High School, the Santa Paula Times on Davis Street as well a vehicle parked in the Downtown on North Alley.
Broken vehicle windows were also reported on McKevett Road and Terracina.
Fogata said there were also reports of slashed tires but at this time it is not known if the vandalism is related to the window smashing.
“We’re still receiving reports, they’re trickling in,” and said Madison, they might continue.
