On March 21, 2015, Los Banos Police investigated the report of a burglary at Los Banos High School. The thieves broke several windows and accessed school buildings, making off with laptop computers, cameras and other items.
On March 23, 2015, Detective McDonald received information about one of the stolen items being posted for sale on the internet.
Detective McDonald traced the posting back to two students,
Jonathan Mendez and Dre Braswell, both 18 of Los Banos. During the course of the investigation detectives learned Braswell and Mendez broken into a classroom, and other buildings, stole various items and conspired to sell them.
“It’s unfortunate that these men would steal from their own school. The ones most impacted are the hardworking students who rely on this equipment to further their education.”
- Jason Hedden, Police Commander
On April 14, 2015, Jonathan Mendez and Dre Braswell were arrested and booked into the Los Banos Police Department jail on charges of burglary, possession of stolen property and criminal conspiracy. Mendez remains in custody at the John Latoracca Correctional Facility in lieu of $30,000.00 bail. Braswell posted bail and is no longer in custody.
Most of the stolen property is believed to have been sold, but detectives did recover one stolen laptop computer valued at $1,200.00.
“The stolen laptop computers were engraved LBUSD on the bottom. If anyone has unknowingly purchased a stolen laptop computer, you can turn it into the Police Department, no questions asked. We just want the property returned.”
- Gary Brizzee, Chief of Police
Anyone with information about this crime or others is encouraged to contact Detective Ramon McDonald at (209) 827-7070 ext. 117 or by email at [email protected].
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 contact the Merced Area Crime Stoppers by telephone at 1(855) 725-2420 or at www.mercedareacrimestoppers.org.
