San Rafael Police Arrest Two In 'Bait Bike' Sting Operation

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Two people were arrested in San Rafael Thursday after police set up a bait operation, according to the city's police department.

Officers locked a "bait bicycle" to several highly visible locations Thursday in the city as a part of a bicycle theft prevention operation, officials said. The San Rafael Police Department Special Operations Unit set up the sting.

After a bicycle was locked to a railing by police at the entrance to a building in the 700 block of Irwin Street, officers witnessed two suspects — 29-year-old Demetrious Holmes and Juanita Butterfly, 38 — attempt to remove the lock with bolt cutters, police said in a news release.

Butterfly is a Santa Rosa resident and police said Holmes had no fixed address.

"Holmes was seen removing the lock securing the bicycle to the railing and was detained as he attempted to ride the bicycle from the location," police said.

Butter fly was detained in a parking lot a short distance away, police said.

Holmes was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, possession of burglary tools, conspiracy to commit a crime and parole violation. Butterfly was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, driving on a suspended license and felony warrants out of Siskiyou and Humboldt Counties.

Both suspects were booked into the Marin County Jail.

Police said the special operations team will periodically conduct similar sting operations throughout the city.

Anyone with information about this crime or bicycle theft was urged to call San Rafael Police at 415-485-3000. Anonymous tips can be submitted here.