Burglars Hit Murrieta's Graham Crackers Comics, 2 Arrested

MURRIETA, CA — Two out-of-towners suspected of burglarizing Murrieta's Graham Crackers Comics and then leading a police chase remained behind bars Friday.

Anthony Levelle Shepherd, 25, of San Jacinto, and Nikida Staten, 37, of Los Angeles were each being held at Southwest Detention Center on a slew of booking charges, jail records show.

The two men are suspected of breaking into the comic book store on 25021 Madison Avenue early Thursday morning. According to Murrieta police, at 3:13 a.m a 911 caller who was viewing a live feed from a surveillance camera reported seeing the store's broken front window and two people inside the business stealing items.

When police got to the store they spotted a black Dodge Charger in the parking lot, but the driver — later identified as Shepherd — fled. Another person, identified later as Staten, tried to make a run for it on foot but was nabbed, police reported.

Shepherd led a police chase on Los Alamos Road into the area of Ivy Street and Washington Avenue but eluded officers for a brief time.

Moments later, police found the Dodge smashed into a home at the corner of Ivy Street and 3rd Avenue. Shepherd fled from the wreckage on foot but was found by police in a nearby backyard. No one inside the home was injured, according to Murrieta PD.

Before getting booked in county jail, both men were sent to a local hospital — Shepherd was treated for crash injuries and Staten for unrelated health issues, according to police.

Inside the crashed car, detectives found burglary tools, numerous comics and other items pilfered from the store, according to police.

Shepherd was booked on suspicion of felony second-degree burglary, evading a peace officer and violating parole, according to jail records. The records also show a booking charge of misdemeanor hit-and-run.

According to Riverside County court records, Shepherd has three vehicle code convictions stemming back to 2017.

Staten was booked on suspicion of second-degree burglary and grand theft — both felonies. He was also booked on suspicion of misdemeanor shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance.