Crime roundup: Robbery suspects apprehended after multiple reports
On Friday, Feb. 15 at 10:25 a.m., officers with the Porterville Police Department (PPD) responded to the area of Date Avenue and Plano Street, regarding an armed robbery, which had just occurred.
During the investigation, it was reported that the victim was walking in the area with his child, when he was approached by a male subject on foot who brandished a large hunting knife and demanded personal property while threatening to commit bodily injury to the child. The victim relinquished some of his personal property to the suspect, who fled the immediate area on foot, but was seen getting into a white colored sedan, which quickly departed the area.
Shortly thereafter, officers responded to the area of Westfield Avenue and Prospect Street for an additional report of an armed robbery involving a male suspect who brandished a large hunting knife at the victim and took some of the victim’s personal property. The suspect fled on foot and was observed entering a similar vehicle to that as involved in the first armed robbery, which then fled the area.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., PPD officers observed a vehicle matching the description as that involved in the aforementioned robberies, driving in the area of Olive Avenue and Jaye Street. The vehicle accelerated from the area, but was eventually stopped by investigating officers in the 1300 block of West Olive Avenue. The passenger, Edgar Emigdio, fled from the vehicle on foot, but was apprehended by officers a short time later. Emigdio was also found to have a felony warrant for his arrest. While on scene of the traffic stop,
officers were contacted by a third victim, who reported being robbed of personal property at knife point a short time earlier while walking in the 1300 block of West Tomah Avenue. During this occurrence, the victim also reported being chased by the suspect with a large hunting knife. The suspect was also seen entering a white colored sedan, which fled the area after the occurrence. During further investigation, the primary suspect in all three robberies was identified as, Luis Nunez, who was driving the suspect vehicle at the time it was stopped.
During a search of the suspect vehicle, officers located evidence linking the suspects to the crime, including personal property belonging to one of the victims.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Nunez was booked into the custody of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department where he is being held in lieu of $340,000 bail.
Emigdio was also booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, where he is being in held lieu of $300,000 bail, in addition to his felony arrest warrant.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Porterville Police Department at (559) 7827400.
TCSO arrest Strathmore man for child molestation
On February 14, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) Crimes Against Children’s Unit, in collaboration with the Tulare County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, investigated a possible child molestation which happened in Strathmore.
Detectives found evidence that Lucas Pete Mitchell of Strathmore met a 14-year-old boy on social media in 2017 and molested him. Mitchell has been arrested and booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Pre-trial Facility on
numerous child molestation charges.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information on this case or on any possible child molestation case is encouraged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff Office at (559) 733-6218. Or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559)725-4194 or through email at tcso@tipnow. com.
TCSO bust County Jail drug smuggler
On Feb. 15, at about 8 a.m., after a two-week long investigation, Detectives with TCSO’S TAGNET (Tulare Area Gang
and Narcotic Enforcement Team) and TAGNET Majors served a search warrant at a home in the 2000 block of N. Ben Maddox Way in Visalia.
This investigation was the result of information that 54-year-old Tammy Gomes had been smuggling drugs into a Tulare County Detention Facility for two weeks. The drugs were being sent to 38-yearold Raymond Durham, who is currently in jail on unrelated charges.
Detectives searched the home and found methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia related to methamphetamine
and other items associated with drug sales.
Gomes was arrested and faces charges of importing narcotics into a County Jail, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a residence for the purpose of narcotics use. Raymond Durham also faces new charges, which include importing narcotics into a County Jail and conspiracy to commit a crime.
This case is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559)733-6218 or send anonymous information via text or email to Tcso@tipnow.com or call (559) 725-4194.