Sheriff's K9 Helps Authorities Nab Suspected San Mateo County Thieves

By Bay City News Service:

Police in Pacifica recently arrested three men after a search of a neighborhood where they found a stolen car with a replica assault rifle inside, police said.

They found the car Tuesdya night after responding to a vehicle burglary in progress at Valencia Way and La Mirada Drive at about 9:30 p.m. Witnesses said the suspects sped away in a white Chevrolet Tahoe, according to police.

Officers then found a Tahoe that had been reported stolen parked in the 300 block of Reina Del Mar Avenue, police said. A fake AK-47 was on the driver’s seat.

Police searched the neighborhood with the help of a dog from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. One suspect was found in the 200 block of Hillside Drive and two others were found a short time later walking on Reina Del Mar Avenue.

The suspects were detained and police found evidence linking them to the stolen Tahoe and other crimes in the county, including car burglaries, police said.

Two of the suspects were identified as San Jose residents 24-year-old Jesus Mario Huerta-Hernandez and 20-year-old Jonatan Paul Gudino-Pena. They were booked into jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and conspiracy.

The third suspect was not identified because he is 17 years old. He was booked into juvenile hall, police said.

(Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone)