Duo Busted In Theft Of Mechanical Bulls, Trailer Burglaries: PD

SANTA ROSA, CA — Police announced two arrests Monday in connection with a series of travel trailer thefts in the Santa Rosa area, one of which contained three mechanical bulls valued at $8,000 each.

The investigation started around 8:45 a.m. Nov. 28 when a travel trailer filled with thousands of dollars worth of construction tools was reported stolen from the 4000 block of state Highway 12.

"A witness familiar with the trailer and its true owner, saw a suspicious vehicle speeding out of a parking lot with the trailer in tow," Santa Rosa police Sgt. Christopher Mahurin said in a news release.

Officers obtained surveillance video of the theft and continued searching for the suspect and the involved vehicle.

Around 8:15 p.m. Nov. 30, officers responded to the theft of a cargo trailer from Cleveland Avenue and 9th Street. The stolen contents included three mechanical bulls valued at $8,000 each, Mahurin said.

Officers found surveillance video in the area and determined the suspect vehicle was the same one they were searching for in the Nov. 28 theft.

The victim made pleas on social media about his stolen mechanical bulls which led a witness to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Based on statements from the witness, detectives found the stolen bulls near West Barham Avenue and the railroad tracks.

"The stolen mechanical bulls had been sold to a Santa Rosa resident, who later noticed the victim’s social media posts about the theft," Mahurin said. "The mechanical bulls were returned to the rightful owner and detectives continued their investigation into the recent burglaries."

At 7:45 a.m. Monday, detectives found the suspicious vehicle associated with the recent burglaries in the 3000 block of Cleveland Avenue. Patrol units initiated a traffic stop and made contact with the two people inside of the car.

The stop led to a search of the car which revealed evidence of additional thefts; power tools, bolt cutters, saws, and multiple styles of different tow hitch receivers to facilitate trailer thefts, Mahurin said.

"Detectives confirmed the driver, Jonathan Galvez, was the same suspect from the previous two thefts, and the passenger, Seamus Gilshenan Jr., was also involved in the theft of the mechanical bulls," Mahurin said.

Detectives believe Galvez and Gilshenan were responsible for another two trailer thefts reported early Monday. The duo is suspected of breaking into a locked cargo trailer in the 3100 block of Coffey Lane that morning.

Further, detectives believe Galvez was in possession of another utility trailer early Monday that was stolen from a rural property in Redwood Valley.

Galvez, 31, of Santa Rosa, was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of felony grand theft of a vehicle, felony grand theft, felony burglary, felony possession of stolen property and felony conspiracy to commit a crime.

Gilshenan, a 32-year-old Santa Rosa resident on parole, was arrested and booked into jail on suspicion of felony burglary, felony possession of stolen property, felony conspiracy to commit a crime and parole violation.