3 Caught Breaking Into Roseland Elementary School: SRPD

SANTA ROSA, CA — Three young men were arrested at Roseland Elementary School early Thursday morning when officers saw them burglarize a classroom, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department. The officers were dispatched at 1:54 a.m. to the school at 950 Sebastopol Road after a passerby called police to report seeing suspicious people who were creeping around the school's parking lot and hiding behind cars.

When officers got to the school, they saw a group of four males in the middle of school grounds, looking in classroom windows and doors, SRPD Sgt. Ryan Hepp said in a news release about the incident.

"Officers watched the group for several minutes as they waited for other units to assist and saw three suspects enter a classroom," Hepp said. "They began removing school equipment while another suspect waited outside as a lookout."

As several officers, including one with a K-9, walked toward the burglary suspects, the suspects ran off in different directions, Hepp said.

The officer with a K-9 partner chased one of the suspects through the grounds and gave him several commands to stop, the sergeant said.

"When the suspect refused, the police K9 was deployed, biting the suspect and preventing him from escaping," Hepp said. "The suspect was identified as 21-year-old Santa Rosa resident Deudiel Bernabe. Bernabe continued to resist two officers and the police K-9. One officer struck him with a baton until Bernabe could be handcuffed."

Meanwhile, a second suspect identified by police as 20-year-old Santa Rosa resident Marco Cardenas-Esquibel, surrendered when he reached a dead-end and was surrounded by barbed wire fencing, Hepp said.

Another officer chased the third suspect, identified by police as 18-year-old Santa Rosa resident Hugo Flores-Godinez, to the edge of campus before tackling Flores-Godinez to the ground and handcuffing him, according to Hepp.

All three young men were eventually booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of burglary, conspiracy and resisting arrest. Bernabe and Cardenas face an additional arrest charge of violating the terms of their probation, according to Hepp.

Sgt. Hepp noted that prior to Bernabe being booked into jail, he was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries he suffered as officers were trying to take him into custody.

According to Hepp, a fourth "lookout" suspect got away during the foot chases.

"At this time, the investigation into his identity is still ongoing," Hepp told Patch.