A burglary suspect was apprehended and arrested on the parking lot at the northeast side of campus for three felony counts of car burglary, including one felony count of possession of burglary tools and a felony count of grand theft auto.
The arrest was made on campus by Bakersfield College public safety officers after one of the officers observed the suspect peering through the windows of several vehicles before breaking the passenger-side window of a car and removing a purse from inside.
Two separate vehicle burglaries occurred on March 14. A purse and camera were stolen from one of the vehicles and nothing from the other. Both vehicles had been broken into from the passenger-side window.
Bakersfield police detectives recovered the stolen truck that the suspect reportedly drove to BC when the March 14 burglaries took place, prior to his arrest on March 21.
As part of a planned investigation into the burglaries that occurred, public safety officers compiled a description and mode of operation of the suspect.
Using this information, public safety officers appeared ready for what took place March 21.
“I was working a burglary suppression unit,” reported officer Richard Cox. “I was advised by Sgt. Counts that he saw an individual matching the description of the suspect.”
According to the report, officer Cox came upon the northeast student parking lot at approximately noon, and, from an inconspicuous position, witnessed the suspect breaking the rear window and reaching inside to take something from the vehicle.
Sgt. Chris Counts approached the suspect, Nazario Alvarez-Alvarado, 28, of Bakersfield. “He identified himself as a public safety officer from the college, and that he (Alvarez-Alvarado) was under citizen’s arrest,” reported Cox.
Counts then withdrew his asp, a retractable baton, and ordered the suspect several times to lie on the ground, stated Cox in the report.
“Finally, Sgt. Counts reached in, grabbed the suspect by the back of the collar and pushed him to the ground,” reported Cox. “At this time, I arrived at Sgt. Counts’ location, and we used our body weight to control the suspect and handcuff him.”
BPD officer Cathy Hinzo arrived and took custody of the suspect.
A purse was found inside Alvarez-Alvarado’s backpack that was claimed by Kelli Munger, 22, whose car was broken into. The contents of the purse were valued at $300.
“We made the arrest the first time out,” said Counts.