Dropped cell phone leads to arrest of burglary suspects

Two Santa Rosa juveniles and a young man were in custody Monday, suspected of burglarizing several cars in west Santa Rosa during the weekend, Santa Rosa police reported.

Officers recovered a stolen handgun and other items following the investigation that led to the arrest of Armando Nicholas Torres, 18, of Santa Rosa, as well as a 14-year-old and 17-year-old, Sgt. Lisa Banayat reported Monday morning.

Officers were called at 3:45 a.m. Saturday to a house on Peterson Lane about a prowler. Residents had heard noises in their garage, which wasn?t closed, and when they began to check it out people in the garage ran out, Banayat said.

One of the suspects reportedly dropped a cell phone, which officers found. They also found two cars in the garage had been burglarized.

A check of the neighborhood turned up several cars with open doors, Banayat said.

At about 6 a.m., police were called to an auto burglary in the same area. A portable two-way radio and gun were taken from a locked car, which belonged to a law enforcement officer.

Detectives used the cell phone officers found and developed leads on possible suspects, Banayat said.

Detectives conducted several search warrants Saturday and Sunday. At the home of the 14-year-old suspect, they found the stolen radio and took him into custody.

They then identified the other two suspects and found the gun, as well as other property believed to have been stolen from several cars.

Torres and the 17-year-old were arrested on suspicion of burglary. The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property.

Banayat asked anyone with information about the crimes to contact property crime detectives at 543-3575.