On March 8, 2016 at approximately 1:08 PM, Covina Police Officers were dispatched to a reported solo vehicle traffic collision in the 1500 block of E. Via Verde in the city of Covina. As officers were arriving on scene, they observed two male subjects running from the area of the traffic collision. Officers quickly detained the two subjects pending further investigation. As officers were investigating the vehicle involved in the collision, they determined the two subjects who were running from the vehicle, were in fact the driver and passenger of it and they had fled after crashing into an embankment.
As officers conducted their investigation, a records check of the vehicle showed that it had been reported stolen out of the City of Corona on March 4, 2016. Inside the vehicle officers located several personal items in the names of others, and recognized the property as being consistent with property that had been reported as stolen during two vehicle burglaries that had occurred earlier in the day at Sacred Heart Church located in the 300 block of W. Workman in the City of Covina.
The two subjects detained by the officers, Awad Khair Zaben (20 year old resident of Fontana) and Jose Francisco Chavez (27 year old resident of Fontana) were ultimately arrested and charged with the unlawful taking of a motor vehicle (VC 10851(a)), possession of stolen property PC 496(a) and for investigation of burglary (PC 836/459). Chavez was also additionally charged with being in possession of burglary tools (PC 466). Both suspects are being housed at the Covina Police Department Jail on $50,000 pending their arraignment at Citrus Superior Court on 3-10-16.
Any information or questions regarding this crime, please contact the Covina Police Department Detective Bureau (626) 384-5620, the Watch Commander (626) 384-5665 or Crime Stoppers (800) 222-TIPS(8477). Refer to Covina PD case # 16-08715.
