Grand Theft and Conspiracy to Commit Theft Arrest

On October 23rd, 2017, shortly before 4:00 P.M., The Sonora Police Department received a call from Rite Aid that three suspects fled through the emergency exit of the store with baskets of merchandize that were not paid for. The suspects were described as two males and one female. The suspects got into a blue colored 4-door sedan and were last seen traveling westbound on Mono Way.

Officers responded to the area and one officer observed a vehicle matching the description traveling northbound on S. Washington Street. The Officer was able to turn around and follow the vehicle. The vehicle pulled into the AMPM on Pesce Way and the officer made contact with the occupants. The officer noted the occupants of the vehicle matched physical descriptions given by Rite Aid and also observed several boxes of merchandise in the back seat of the vehicle.

An Officer transported a Rite Aid employee to AMPM for a field show-up. The employee positively identified the occupants of the vehicle as the suspects who stole merchandise from Rite Aid. Officers interviewed the occupants, who confessed to the theft. During a search of the vehicle, officers located stolen merchandise with a value in excess of $1,000.00.

Officers also learned during their investigation that some of the items had been stolen earlier in the day from CVS in the Junction Shopping Center.

Dan Emanuel Garcia, 28, Jesus Moises Mejia, 25 and Elisa Ornelas, 25 all of Modesto were arrested for grand theft and conspiracy to commit theft. They were transported to the Tuolumne County jail where they were booked on felony charges and are each being held on $20,000.00 bail.