Great Patrol Work Captures Suspect That Took Bike From a Backyard in Middle of the Night

Great patrol work by Officer Ben Whaley results in the arrest of a bike theft suspect and 2 of the suspect’s cohorts. 

While most of us are asleep comfortably in our homes, there is a whole crew of dedicated SCPD Officers working to keep the city safe and respond to your needs.  Officer Ben Whaley is one of those dedicated officers. 

Officer Whaley was called to take a bike theft report at 1:30 AM in the 900 block of Cayuga Street.  The victim was awakened by the sound of someone going through her backyard.  She caught a glimpse of the suspect taking her bicycle from the backyard and riding away. 

While Officer Whaley took the report, other officers circulated the area to no avail.  After completing the report, Officer Whaley kept an eagle eye for any suspicious looking characters out in the early morning hours. 

At about 2:20 AM, Officer Whaley spotted our suspect along with two of his drug-using cohorts in the Chevron lot at Ocean and Soquel.  They were at the Chevron putting air in the tire of the bicycle they had stolen just an hour before. 

Officer Whaley (and a few of his friends in blue) stopped our suspects in the Chevron lot.  Our suspect makes up a story about owning the bicycle and buying it a week and a half ago.  The bicycle had some distinctive features, so we knew his story was rated a solid “4 Pinocchio’s” on the liar scale. 

We called the victim and she shows up to positively ID her bicycle and provide pictures for proof.  Thanks to Officer Whaley, she gets her bike back which was otherwise doomed to a “rattle can” flat-black spray paint job. 

Turns out our suspect is (drumroll please)…….on Probation.  He has a long, long history of arrests with our department alone.  This makes his 4^th arrest this year.  He is identified as

Gabriel (Gabe) Langan – 24 years old – Transient

Mr. Langan was arrested for Possession of Stolen Property, Theft, and Violation of Probation. 

Now for his two friends.

Mr. Donovan Dehart was in the company of Mr. Langan.   

Turns out he had a warrant for his arrest out of Campbell, CA for drug charges.  Not only that, but he was in possession of drug paraphernalia and heroin.  Mr. Dehart was promptly taken into custody and booked in jail. 

Mr. Caleb McGuire was also contacted with our suspects.   

Mr. McGuire is also on Probation.  He too, has a history of multiple arrests and this occasion memorialized his 4^th arrest by SCPD this year.  Mr. McGuire was found in possession of drug paraphernalia.  He too was arrested. 

Great work by Officer Whaley and our brave victim. 

Sandwich Suspect Submarined by Name That Thief

The case of the “Lunchbox Larceny”…..actually “Robbery” has been solved. 

Last week we posted this video

and photo

of our suspect who attempted to steal a sandwich from a downtown store.  When confronted, our suspect pulled a knife on store employees. 

An alert Sheriff’s Sergeant saw the photo and called in to identify him as Daniel Replogle

Mr. Replogle is 32 years old and transient in Santa Cruz.  He was located on Saturday on the 100 block of Coral Street and arrested for this robbery. 

For those that criticized the store and defended Mr. Repogle; rationalizing his behavior as just that of “a hungry man”……Well, not quite.  We take offense when you pull a knife on store clerks, or anyone for that matter!!! 

That was a robbery and you should know Mr. Replogle has a long history of arrests dating back to 2003 for offenses such as drugs, prescription meds without a prescription, theft, and possession of stolen property.  In fact, he has been arrested by our agency 5 times this year alone, and….he is on Probation! 

Officers recovered the knife he used in the brandishing, and also recovered a credit card that does not belong to him.  We’ll be following up on that part of this, as well.   

Thanks to our alert and knowledgeable friends at the Sheriff's Office for the assist on this one.  

Help Us Identify and Find This Sandwich Thief That Pulled a Knife on Store Employees

Help us identify this sandwich thief turned robber.

This suspect attempted to steal a pre-made sandwich from a downtown grocery market.  When store employees became wise to his intentions the suspect bolted for the back door.

Store employees continued to follow the suspect to the back parking lot and confront him.  That is when one of the employees took this photo of our suspect saluting the camera with the sandwich still in his hand. 

The suspect eventually threw down the sandwich and got on a bicycle.  Store employees still tried to restrain the suspect.  Our suspect pulled out a knife and brandished it at the store employees.   This is when the case turned from a lunchbox larceny to a robbery.   For those who aren’t versed in the legal differences; using force or fear in the course of a theft transforms it to a robbery.  

Here is a video of the incident. 

The store employees did the right thing by backing off and calling 9-1-1.

Be a “Hero” and help us “Submarine” this sandwich stealing suspect.  

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department Investigations Unit (831) 420-5820.  Anonymous tips can also be sent to the police department through our Tip Line (831) 420-5995, or from our Website; www.santacruzpolice.com .  Tipsters can also submit an anonymous tip via our smartphone app or from an SMS text.  Visit our Website for instructions.

 

Surf Shop Bandit Identified and Arrested

Thanks to our “Gnarlatious” friends in the “Line Up”, we “Caught a Few”, and were able to identify our suspect.  

Officer "Big Wave" Dave Albert took the "Swell" of information and "Locked In".  Here are the photos from the store video:

Tips led us to this “Tasty” Facebook posting where the suspect is wearing the same tank top he had on during the theft video.  

This was like a big ‘ol "Neptune’s Cocktail"  followed by a “Sand Facial”.  

Detectives on the “Dawn Patrol” “Dropped In” on our unsuspecting “Shubie” and “Towed Him In”.

The suspect is a 17 year old Cabrillo College student from Novato.  Since he is a juvenile, we won't identify him by name.  Turns out he was staying at the luxury hotel with his parents at the same time the credit card was stolen.

The case is closed thanks to your tips and the hard work of Officer "Big Wave" Dave Albert.  We’ll show our gratitude with a friendly nod of the head and with a smile, simply say, “Dude”.