On January 17, 2014, at approximately 11:34 a.m., officers responded to the 900 block of Nickel Street after receiving a report of an attempted car theft.
A witness noticed a suspicious person tamping with the ignition in her relative’s 1992 Honda Accord. The witness confronted the suspect and attempted to close the vehicle’s door to keep the suspect from fleeing. The suspect forced vehicle door open, pushing the witness back and fled the area. The suspect was last seen running north on Nickel Street.
Commander Reyna was in the area and located the suspect walking in the 1900 block of San Luis Street. As Commander Reyna attempted to contact the suspect, he fled on foot. Officers converged on the area and set up a perimeter to contain the suspect. The suspect was located hiding in a shed within the backyard of a residence in the 2100 block of Huntington Street. The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old, Adrian Rene Martinez.
“We urge our citizen to be aware of their surroundings and report suspicious activity immediately. We were able to apprehend this suspect because a member of our community took action by calling 9-1-1.”
-Jason Hedden, Police Commander
Adrian Rene Martinez was charged with burglary and attempted vehicle theft. Additionally, Martinez had outstanding felony arrest warrants for hit and run and evading an officer with disregard for safety. He was booked into the Los Banos Police Department Jail Facility and he remains in custody at the Sandy Mush Jail Facility in lieu of $55,000 bail.
To leave an anonymous crime tip call 209-827-7070 Ext. 288. If you have access to a computer and the internet you can also leave an anonymous tip at the Police Department’s web page at www.losbanos.org. At the bottom of the “Contact” page simply click on the “report graffiti and other crime” link or visit the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1-855-725-2420, or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org
