Full Notification

During the week of September 20th, 2015 SRJC District Police Officers arrested two suspects in separate, unrelated bicycle theft incidents on the Santa Rosa Campus.

Incident #1
During the afternoon of Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015 District Police Officers were alerted to a suspicious person near the bike racks in the Emeritus Hall quad area. SRJC District Police Community Service Officers (CSO) reported a subject who was attempting to cut a cable lock on a bicycle which was secured to a bicycle rack. The subject was in possession of bolt cutters and was actively attempting to cut the cable lock when he was alerted to the CSO’s presence and began to walk away. The CSO gave a thorough description of the subject and District Police Officers quickly arrived on scene. Officers detained the subject, questioned him, and identified him as: Martin John Toledo, a 48 year old Santa Rosa resident. A search of Toledo’s person revealed a pair of bolt cutters and a pair of plyers, both commonly used as tools to use for bicycle thefts. Upon being interviewed by officers, Toledo admitted his intention to steal the bicycle and then trade it for drugs at a local neighborhood residence which is known to law enforcement for this type of activity. Toledo has a lengthy history with local law enforcement officers including other incidents involving thefts and drugs. Toledo was transported and booked at the Sonoma County Jail for the following charges: 664/488 PC (attempt theft) and 466 PC (possession of burglary tools).

Incident #2
On Sunday, September 20th, 2015 during the late evening, District Police Department Officers initiated a contact with a suspicious person in the stairwell of the parking garage. The subject was observed in the stairwell with a can of spray paint and was actively spray painting a brand new Trek road bicycle. Police officers detained the subject and identified him as Billy James Smith, a 29 year old Santa Rosa resident. The subsequent investigation revealed the bicycle in Smith’s possession had recently been stolen from the Trek Bicycle Store on Mendocino Avenue. The bicycle had a value of over $5,000.00 and officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department had documented that reported theft earlier in the evening. Smith was interviewed and admitted to stealing the bicycle from the Trek Store earlier in the day. He said he was spray painting the bicycle to conceal it and change its appearance. Smith was arrested and booked at the Sonoma County Jail for the following charge: 496a PC (felony possession of stolen property). The bicycle was processed as evidence and later returned to the Trek Store.

The SRJC District Police Department would like to remind the SRJC community to always properly secure your bicycle when parked on campus. Bicycle thefts are common on campus and around other parts of the county. It is recommended to secure bicycles to the designated bicycle racks on campus with a quality lock. The SRJC is an open campus and allows the public to use its facilities for educational and enrichment purposes. While the SRJC campuses are relatively safe environments, they are not crime free. Please help the Police Department by reporting any suspicious activity immediately at (707)527-1000.