Nabbed! Police Say Rohnert Park Apartment Prowler Is In Custody

News from the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety:

Suspect Arrested From Apartment Break-In

On 12/21/15, Rohnert Park Public Safety Detectives were contacted by an attorney who said he wanted to bring the suspect in to talk about the incident and how it was just a mistake.

At approximately 7:00pm, Detectives met with Arnulfo Pureco Ortega (25 years old from Rohnert Park) and his attorney. Pureco Ortega said he had been notified of the press coverage of this incident and that we were looking for the suspect, whom he recognized as being him when he saw the surveillance images.

• Previous: Intruder Breaks Into Rohnert Park Apartment, Flees When Resident Screams

Pureco Ortega said he had been drinking alcohol at his home the night before and became extremely intoxicated. He said his girlfriend lives in the same apartment complex, which was confirmed, and he must have blacked out from his intoxication and gone to the complex trying to get to her apartment. He said he did not recall anything from that night, and he woke up the next day in his bed.

A search warrant was served on Pureco Ortega’s residence and his vehicle, and a bag of undergarment belonging to one of the victim’s roommates, who was not home when the incident occurred, was found in Pureco Ortega’s bedroom closet. Pureco Ortega said he did not know how the undergarments got into his bedroom.

Pureco Ortega also could not explain why he was seen on the surveillance video covering his hand with his sleeve when he grabbed door knobs of apartments, as if he was trying not to leave any fingerprints. He also could not explain why he covered his face with his arm or hand when he approached some of the cameras in the complex, as if he was trying to shield his identity from the cameras.

Pureco Ortega maintained that he was extremely intoxicated and he did not remember anything that occurred.

Pureco Ortega was then arrested for Burglary and Prowling, and he was booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

Detectives would like to thank everyone who provided tips regarding the identity of the suspect in this case.