SMPD Makes Arrest in Active Home Invasion Following Coordinated Response and K9 Deployment

By CITY of SAN MATEO POLICE DEPARTMENT, image via Shutterstock

On Friday, July 24th at about 9:15 PM, alert residents in the 3300 block of Countryside Drive reported a male suspect who had jumped over the perimeter fence of a residence. SMPD Officers responded and with the overhead assistance of San Mateo County Air One, quickly established a secure perimeter around the residence. Officers then moved swiftly to establish a sound tactical plan armed with the knowledge that this neighborhood has recently fallen victim to multiple residential burglaries. As a precaution and for the safety of the surrounding residents, SMPD issued an in-person shelter in place to the surrounding neighbors. One SMPD officer then observed at male subject inside the home through a rear window, confirming that the residence was occupied.

SMPD made multiple attempts to contact the residents by phone but were unsuccessful. SMPD Officers and one SMPD K9 Unit then moved to the front door and issued a verbal announcement of their presence and their intent to enter the property based on exigent circumstances that a residential burglary was in progress and that the homeowners may be in danger. A resident quickly exited the front door and told the officers that there should be no one else inside the home. Officer then entered the premises to search the interior with the suspicious subject who was seen jumping the fence still unaccounted for.

Moments after entering the residence the K9 alerted on a lower garage cabinet and officers opened it to find a male suspect who had secreted himself inside the cabinet. The subject refused to comply with repeated orders from the K9 handler to surrender while deliberately concealing his hands from view. Fearing for the safety of the officers present and the suspect, the K9 was deployed, biting the male on the lower left leg. The male flailed his arms and hands and fought back against the K9, kicking the K9 with his free leg. Officers moved in to try and take the subject into custody and he continued to violently resist, still concealing his hands and ignoring orders to surrender and stop resisting. Additional officers moved in and were able to control and safely lift the suspect out of the cabinet and place him in handcuffs. A later search of his person found he was in possession of jewelry stolen from inside the residence.

The suspect continued to verbally and physically resist as paramedics were called to the scene, cursing at them and refusing to cooperate. The arrestee had to be placed in a full body restraint device to prevent any injury to him or the paramedics and officers on scene. He was then transported to an area hospital for treatment where he was medically cleared with very minor injuries and then booked into San Mateo County Jail. County jail staff confirmed that the arrestee was on probation in Ventura Country for a prior home invasion for which is was allowed to plead to a much lesser offense and subsequently served a short jail term. SMPD Detectives are now following up to determine if the arrestee is also responsible for the recent burglaries in the neighborhood.

ARRESTED

Carlos Moreno

Age 19

Belmont Resident

A MESSAGE TO OUR COMMUNITY

Once again, the willingness of our community to get involved proved invaluable as it did in this case and we continue to be grateful of our community’s efforts as our extra “eyes and ears.” This case also highlights the inherent need for our community to stay abreast of rapidly evolving, critical incidents such as this via Rapid Notify (Reverse 911) and Nixle. These two venues remain the fastest way for us to communicate with our public during emergencies such as this one. Go to www.Nixle.com to register and receive all SMPD Alerts. To register your cellular phone with Rapid Notify, please go here and fill out the brief form: http://www.cityofsanmateo.org/index.aspx?NID=2941

For your safety and that of your loved ones, your San Mateo Police Department also asks that you remain vigilant and don’t hesitate to report suspicious persons or activity via 911 as the alert witnesses did in this case. Trust your instincts and when in doubt, call us and report what you see. Stand up for the good of our community. Through this collaboration with your police department we will work together to keep our neighborhoods safe.

SMPD urges anyone in our community to report all suspicious activity to SMPD at (650) 522-7700 or 911 for emergencies. You may also contact the SMPD Secret Witness Line, (650) 522-7676 or report a tip online at http://tinyurl.com/SMPDTips