On March 8, 2014 at approximately 10:06 p.m., Los Banos Police Communications received a 9-1-1 call from a residence in the 1400 block of S. Nevada Avenue. 9-1-1 dispatchers could hear a struggle and woman pleading with an intruder to leave her residence.
Officer Pricolo, Officer Flores and Officer Hew arrived within minutes and could hear an altercation in the residence. The victim yelled out to officers alerting them the suspect, 36-year-old Aaron Torres Quintana of Los Banos, was fleeing out the back of the residence. Officers Flores and Hew observed a male suspect fleeing from the rear door and ordered the suspect to stop. The officers chased the suspect on foot for a short distance and a struggle ensued as the officers attempted to detain him.
Officers met with the 86-year-old female victim who was alone at the time. The woman told officers she heard her dog barking in the backyard and went to investigate. She observed a man whom was unfamiliar to her in the backyard and yelled out to him she was calling the police. The woman went to her telephone in another area of the residence and dialed 9-1-1. As the woman was calling police, the suspect entered the residence through a window and forcibly took the phone from the woman; throwing it onto the ground.
The woman tried to get to her front door and fell to the ground. Quintana jumped on top of the woman and began to assault her but heard police approaching and fled.
“The 86-year-old victim should be proud of how she handled this unfortunate situation. She was strong and had the presence of mind to call 9-1-1, which ended up being the key to solving this case.”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
Quintana was charged with burglary with the intent to commit a felony and other related charges. He remains in custody at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility in lieu of $1,000,000.00 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
