$30K Burglary Investigation Leads To Identity Theft Arrests: SRPD

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — An investigation into a residential burglary that took place in late July in the 4300 block of Fistor Drive in Santa Rosa has resulted in at least three arrests, the Santa Rosa Police Department said in a recent news release.

More than $30,000 worth of personal property was stolen when someone broke into the home, including electronics, jewelry, family heirlooms, personal identification information, collectibles, and financial documents, police said. The victim's car was also stolen.

"An area resident reported seeing a door open at the residence," Santa Rosa police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said. "No one was home at the time of the burglary."

Officers processed the crime scene, but no suspect was initially identified. Detectives with the Santa Rosa Police Department’s Property Crime Team took over the investigation.

On Aug. 1, two people were arrested on suspicion of trying to cash multiple checks at a local business in the 1200 block of Piner Road. As it turned out, the checks were stolen during the burglary on Fistor Drive, Mahurin said.

Christian Kemp, 21, of Santa Rosa, and Jesse Salter, 28, of Santa Rosa, were arrested and charged by the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office with forgery, conspiracy to commit a crime, possessing stolen property and identity theft.

Detectives late last week were looking for Salter because he failed to appear in court and has an active felony arrest warrant related to this case. Police asked anyone with information about Salter’s whereabouts to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department.

As the investigation into the burglary continued, detectives identified an apartment in San Rafael where they believed the victim's stolen property might be stashed.

Detectives served a search warrant Aug. 3 at the apartment in the 300 block of Channing Way in San Rafael and located two suspects and most of the stolen property from the Fistor Drive burglary, Mahurin said.

Adam Richardson, 36, of Santa Rosa — an acquaintance of Kemp and Salter from the forgery and ID theft investigation — was arrested on suspicion of possession of the stolen property and booked into Sonoma County jail but was later released. A female who was with Richardson at the time was also arrested but her information was not being released because charges have not yet been filed against her.

As detectives continued to investigate the initial burglary case, followed up on credible leads, wrote numerous search warrants, and pieced together evidence from each of the above incidents, they developed probable cause that Richardson was responsible for breaking into the home on Fistor Drive in July, Mahurin said.

On Nov. 2, detectives re-arrested Richardson at Marin County Superior Courts.

Richardson was again booked into the Sonoma County jail, this time on suspicion of felony residential burglary and vehicle theft.

During the arrest process, detectives located a home key in his possession and learned he was living in an apartment in the 6100 block of Montecito Boulevard in Santa Rosa.

Because Richardson was already on probation and was required to submit to a search of his residence, detectives searched his apartment Nov. 2 and found more stolen property from the Fistor Drive burglary, Mahurin said.

"Detectives also located personal identifying information for at least 30 different people from throughout Santa Rosa and Sonoma County," Mahurin said.

Richardson was arrested on additional charges of identity theft/possession of multiple people's personal information, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richardson's bail was set at $300,000.

"Property Crime detectives believe that Richardson may be responsible for more identity thefts and residential burglaries," Mahurin said. "If you believe you have been a victim of a similar incident related to Richardson, police contact the Santa Rosa Police Department."