September 26, 2007

Third man arrested in Placentia house burglary
Several police agencies involved in intense search of neighborhood. 2 others arrested earlier after chase.
By DENISSE SALAZAR
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

PLACENTIA – A third man suspected of a residential burglary was arrested today after an intense multi-agency search that paralyzed a residential neighborhood. Two other men were arrested after they led police on a short pursuit, authorities said.

Shortly before 10 a.m. police responded to reports of a burglary in progress in a home in the 600 block of Lemke Drive. The crime was reported by a woman who lives in the home after she was alerted by a neighbor, said Corinne Loomis of the Placentia Police Department.

Police arrived just in time to find a white Ford Econoline van, with no license plates, in the driveway of the home. The men in the van sped away and led police on a mile and a half chase down Lemke. The van came to a stop in the 600 block of Lewis Place near Placentia Avenue and all three men bailed out, Loomis said.

Police quickly arrested two of the men - Ricardo Pimentel, 30, of Montebello and Manuel Rojas Mercado, 28, of Perris – at gunpoint.

More than two hours later, police arrested Martin Edward Dominguez, 30, of Hacienda Heights without incident. Dominguez was found in the side yard of a home in the 1700 block of Clark Avenue near Placentia.

The men are being booked at Placentia Jail. Dominguez, who police said was the driver, is being booked on one count of felony burglary and one count of felony evading police. Pimentel and Mercado are each facing one count of residential burglary and one count of misdemeanor resisting arrest, Loomis said.

Police found property in the van belonging to woman who lived at the house that was burgled, including credit cards and jewelry.

The California Highway Patrol, Anaheim, Fullerton, and Cal State Fullerton police, and a bloodhound assisted in the search. A helicopter was also used.

Authorities went from house to house looking for the man in a 1-square-mile radius, which included Placentia to Bastanchury Road to Palm Drive.

Sierra Vista Elementary School was put on lockdown by administrators while authorities conducted their search.

All streets have reopened.