SLPD Shift in Staffing Leads to Several Suspect Arrests

San Leandro Police Department said several suspects were arrested on Tuesday in three separate incidents due to the agency's recent shift in staffing to a Specialized Crime Unit.

“We had multiple in progress crimes happen in a short period of time. We used a variety of problem oriented policing strategies to assist us locate and arrest the suspects who were involved in these incidents," said Lt. Jeff Tudor. "Teamwork, determination, and collaboration between police staff and the community allowed for us to be successful in the apprehension of these individuals who were preying upon innocent victims and the property of others”.

Listed below are the incidents that occurred on Tuesday:

Burglary: 300 Estudillo Ave. Arrested Suspect:  Luis Martinez, 25 year old, Oakland resident.

On Tuesday, around 3:55 p.m., an undercover officer observed Martinez breaking into a vehicle at the San Leandro Library. 

As Martinez fled the area in his vehicle, San Leandro street crime units conducted a traffic stop on Martinez and located the stolen item inside his vehicle. 

Martinez was on parole for burglary and was in possession of “shaved keys” commonly used to steal or break into vehicles. Martinez was arrested for burglary, possession of burglary tools and for a parole violation.   

Attempted Robbery: 400 block of Maud Ave.  Arrested Suspects: 17 year old man, Oakland resident. Jose Avalos, 19 year old, San Francisco resident.  Faustino Avila, 19 year old, Oakland resident.  

On Tuesday, around 4 p.m., the victim and her two friends (San Leandro residents in their late teens early twenties) were walking in the 400 block of Maud Ave. 

The juvenile suspect approached the victim, grabbed her wrist and attempted to steal her iPod.  A nearby citizen yelled at the suspect who ran off with a second suspect.  

Both suspects got into a silver, Ford 150 driven by a third suspect and fled the area at a high rate of speed. 

A SLPD undercover officer located the suspect vehicle in the area of 98th Ave. in Oakland. The undercover officer observed one of the suspects get out of the vehicle and go into a business on International Blvd.  

The suspect vehicle was stopped on 98th and E Street in Oakland by marked SLPD units.

Avalos and Avilla were inside of the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop. 

Undercover officers were able to detain the 17-year-old juvenile suspect as he attempted to exit the business on International Blvd. 

The victim and witnesses to the incident were able to identify all three suspects.   

Attempted Robbery: 1700 E14th Ave. Suspects Arrested: 16 year old female, Oakland resident. Tyrisha Thompson 23 years old, Oakland resident.  

On Tuesday, around 7:30 p.m., the 16-year-old female suspect grabbed the victim’s purse as she was leaving a nearby business. The victim and suspect engaged in a brief struggle and the victim was able to retain her purse. 

During the robbery attempt, Thompson acted as a “lookout”. Both suspect fled on foot east bound Elsie Ave. A SLPD street crime unit observed Thompson in the 400 block of Elsie and she was detained without incident.

The 16-year-old female suspect attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehend by a SLPD undercover officer in the 200 block of Warren Ave.  The victim positively identified both suspects.