Information Release
On Friday, April 4, deputies arrested Erik Leon Barahona, 18, Jose A. Hernandez-Garcia, 25, Jose Avel Nieto-Suazo, 31, and Merlin Yardia Valasquez, 20, all of Los Angeles, California. The four are being held in the Ada County Jail on burglary charges after deputies found stolen merchandise in the trunk of the car the group was driving.
Detectives recovered 434 stolen items from the vehicle including dozens of boxes of over-the-counter allergy medicine, antacids, razors, women's face lotion, beard trimmers and Rogaine. The products had a retail value of nearly $10,200.
The three men and one woman had taken the items from an Eagle grocery store and were planning to transport them to California to be sold on the black market.
Detectives have linked the same four suspects to at least five similar burlgaries at Ada County grocery stores along with two burglaries in Eastern Idaho.
All of the evidence and information collected will be routed to Ada County prosecutors for additional charges.
Just after 11:00pm Friday night, deputies were called to a business by an employee who believed a group of people inside the store at the time was stealing items. The three males and one female left before deputies arrived. The officers searched the area minutes later and found the four in a parking lot near the corner of State Street and Eagle Road.
The group agreed to allow deputies to search the vehicle they were driving. Officers found a large amount of over-the-counter medicine and personal hygiene products inside. Store personnel estimate the value of the products to be about $10,000. Deputies believe the items were stolen from multiple stores over a short period of time.
Deputies arrested Erik Leon Barahona, 18, Jose A. Hernandez-Garcia, 25, Jose Avel Nieto-Suazo, 31, and Merlin Yardia Valasquez, 20, all of Los Angeles, California. The four were booked into the Ada County Jail on one charge of felony burglary each.
The burglary investigation continues. Additional charges are pending against the suspects.
Date: April 9, 2008
Contact: Andrea Dearden 577-3311
Incident: Detectives link burglary suspects to at least seven other incidents
People involved:
Erik Leon Barahona, 18, Los Angeles, CA
Jorge A. Hernandez-Garcia, 25, Los Angeles, CA
Jose Avel Nieto-Suazo, 31, Los Angeles, CA
Merlin Yardia Valasquez, 20, Los Angeles, CA
Details:
Ada County Sheriff's detective have linked four burglary suspects arrested Friday night to at least seven other similar crimes.On Friday, April 4, deputies arrested Erik Leon Barahona, 18, Jose A. Hernandez-Garcia, 25, Jose Avel Nieto-Suazo, 31, and Merlin Yardia Valasquez, 20, all of Los Angeles, California. The four are being held in the Ada County Jail on burglary charges after deputies found stolen merchandise in the trunk of the car the group was driving.
Detectives recovered 434 stolen items from the vehicle including dozens of boxes of over-the-counter allergy medicine, antacids, razors, women's face lotion, beard trimmers and Rogaine. The products had a retail value of nearly $10,200.
The three men and one woman had taken the items from an Eagle grocery store and were planning to transport them to California to be sold on the black market.
Detectives have linked the same four suspects to at least five similar burlgaries at Ada County grocery stores along with two burglaries in Eastern Idaho.
All of the evidence and information collected will be routed to Ada County prosecutors for additional charges.
Previously Released (April 5, 2008):
Eagle Police have arrested four people suspected of stealing thousands of dollars worth of over-the-counter medicine and personal hygiene products from local grocery stores.Just after 11:00pm Friday night, deputies were called to a business by an employee who believed a group of people inside the store at the time was stealing items. The three males and one female left before deputies arrived. The officers searched the area minutes later and found the four in a parking lot near the corner of State Street and Eagle Road.
The group agreed to allow deputies to search the vehicle they were driving. Officers found a large amount of over-the-counter medicine and personal hygiene products inside. Store personnel estimate the value of the products to be about $10,000. Deputies believe the items were stolen from multiple stores over a short period of time.
Deputies arrested Erik Leon Barahona, 18, Jose A. Hernandez-Garcia, 25, Jose Avel Nieto-Suazo, 31, and Merlin Yardia Valasquez, 20, all of Los Angeles, California. The four were booked into the Ada County Jail on one charge of felony burglary each.
The burglary investigation continues. Additional charges are pending against the suspects.
