Deputies on their way to conduct probation checks this week saw a man looking into car windows and trying door handles in the parking lot of the Facey Medical Group at Valencia Boulevard and McBean Parkway. When they tried to talk with the man, he jumped on a bicycle and fled the area.
Dumping the bike, he ran into the area of the Portofino Apartments on Valencia Boulevard. Deputies recovered the bicycle and established a containment, but the suspect managed to evade capture.
Information for a crime report was gathered and deputies attempted to contact the owner of the vehicle the suspect was apparently attempting to break into. The report on that incident was generated and Thursday morning patrol deputies nabbed a suspect, Jesse Tucker, 24, of Newhall who they believe may be the same person that was tampering with the cars at Facey.
Tucker is also suspected in connection with the theft of a truck from the 24700 block of Town Center Drive, Valencia, which occurred around 10 p.m. Wednesday. In that incident, an unknown suspect stole the vehicle of a pizza delivery driver who left it unlocked and running as he delivered a pizza.
Tucker was caught when deputies stopped a car on Soledad Canyon Road near Bouquet Canyon Road and the passenger, Tucker, ran from the vehicle. Deputies caught Tucker moments later near the McDonald’s Restaurant on Valencia Boulevard.
Inside a backpack Tucker had in his possession, deputies recovered a passport, credit card, and identification belonging to the owner of the previous night’s vehicle theft. They also recovered burglary tools. Although the stolen vehicle belonging to the pizza delivery driver, a white, 2007 Toyota Yaris, license plate #5YBF517, has not yet been recovered, deputies believe suspect Tucker is directly involved.
Suspect Tucker also had a felony no bail warrant as a parolee-at-large. He was arrested and booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on suspicion of felony burglary and receiving stolen property charges and misdemeanor charges of possession of a hypodermic syringe and burglary tools. He is being held without bail pending future court proceedings.
Tucker’s driver, Carrie Smith, 39, of Canyon Country, was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and misdemeanor possession of a switchblade knife and burglary Tools. She is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail pending future court proceedings.