BISHOP POLICE DEPARTEMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Bishop Police Department announces that an arrest has been made as a result of an investigation into a series of thefts from vehicles, which have been occurring over the past several weeks. These thefts included items taken from unlocked vehicles, as well as items stolen from vehicles where windows were smashed and/or vehicles were damaged.
Date Occurred: 11-26-07 at approximately 7:30 PM
Crime(s) Charged/Investigated: PC 459 (Vehicle Burglary), PC 487 (Grand Theft), PC 484 (Possession of Access Card with Intent to Commit Theft), PC 496 (Possession of Known Stolen Property), H&S 11377 (Possession of Controlled Substance)
Suspect: Hernandez, Cristobal Granados Date of Birth: 09-01-1988
Residence: Bishop, CA
Occupation: Unemployed
Place of Arrest: 500 Block of N. Third Ave., Bishop, CA
Details:
Over the course of the past several weeks, the Bishop Police Department has been investigating several thefts that have occurred at various locations throughout the City. The majority of these thefts have involved vehicle burglaries or items taken from unlocked vehicles. The thefts have occurred at various hours of the day/night. Items stolen included such things as purses, cell phones, wallets, cash, credit cards, personal electronic devices, car stereos and jewelry.
In one of the thefts, an ATM card was taken and shortly thereafter, the thief attempted to use the card at a local bank. ATM surveillance camera footage was obtained and Detective Dave Jepson was able to obtain a general description of the suspect.
Due to the nature of the Bank camera equipment, further enhancement of the surveillance footage was necessary in order to obtain clear images of the suspect. With the assistance of Bishop Police Department Reserve Officer/Dispatcher Frank Bumgarner, enhanced images were taken from the surveillance footage, allowing further positive identification of the suspect.
At this same time, uniformed Officer Rick Beall was on patrol and conducted a traffic stop on a subject riding a bicycle. Officer Beall identified the bicyclist as Cristobal G. Hernandez, a 19-year old Bishop resident. Officer Beall noted that Hernandez fit the general description provided by Detective Jepson. Officer Beall issued Hernandez a verbal warning regarding a minor traffic violation and released him.
A few moments later, Officer Beall returned to the Police Station, where Detective Jepson was preparing to distribute the enhanced photographic images of the suspect from the ATM surveillance camera. Officer Beall was able to positively identify the subject in the photographs from the ATM camera as Cristobal G. Hernandez, the subject he had earlier contacted on the bicycle.
Detective Jepson, Officer Beall, and other Officers from the Bishop Police Department went in search of suspect Hernandez, and he was subsequently located in the 500 block of N. Third Ave. When contacted, Hernandez was found in possession of stolen property, and also found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Hernandez was thereafter placed under arrest. Subsequent investigation lead to the recovery of many of the items that had been reported stolen in various theft investigations. Bishop Police Department is currently attempting to reconcile the property with the rightful owners/victims and this investigation is continuing. Suspect Hernandez was subsequently booked into Inyo County Jail on multiple charges and is currently being held in lieu of $ 50,000 bail.
Anyone with additional information is requested to contact Detective Dave Jepson of the Bishop Police Department at (760) 873-5866
Prepared by: Lt. Chris Carter Date: November 27, 2007