GILROY
–– Three suspects who allegedly burglarized a Zales Outlet store
and led law enforcement on a foot chase through a rural area east
of Gilroy remained at large Friday and were likely headed to
southern California, police say.
One suspect, 27-year-old Willie Cross, was arrested early
Thursday morning by Gilroy police following a manhunt east of
Gilroy. Victoria Jefferson, 27, the driver of a get-away car, was
arrested after California Highway Patrol officers forced her to
stop the car on Interstate 5. Stolen jewelry of unknown value was
found in the trunk of the car.
GILROY –– Three suspects who allegedly burglarized a Zales Outlet store and led law enforcement on a foot chase through a rural area east of Gilroy remained at large Friday and were likely headed to southern California, police say.
One suspect, 27-year-old Willie Cross, was arrested early Thursday morning by Gilroy police following a manhunt east of Gilroy. Victoria Jefferson, 27, the driver of a get-away car, was arrested after California Highway Patrol officers forced her to stop the car on Interstate 5. Stolen jewelry of unknown value was found in the trunk of the car.
Gilroy Police Department Cpl. Jimmy Callahan, a 14-year veteran, suffered minor injuries after crashing his patrol car while en route to the crime-in-progress.
Cross and three other suspects allegedly entered the Zales Outlet, 8155 Arroyo Circle #9, by forcing open the back door, probably with a pry bar, according to Sgt. Jack Robinson, a detective with GPD. At about 3:49 a.m., all five Gilroy Police Department officers on duty at the time were dispatched to answer the alarm, said to Sgt. Noel Provost.
Surveillance tapes from the diamond store show four black males wearing black clothing smashing display cases inside the store and taking jewelry, Robinson said.
“It was very methodical and organized, as far as going in and having a plan,” he said. “They were in there for no more than a minute and 10 seconds, so it was very quick.”
Employees of Zales’ alarm company monitored the robbery in process and relayed what was going on to GPD. The surveillance tape, which detectives reviewed Thursday, shows the burglars’ faces, and detectives are working to produce pictures to distribute to law enforcement agencies across the state.
“But we still have to find out who they are,” Robinson said.
Cross and Jefferson, the two suspects in custody, did not provide police with any information, he said, and the robbers were wearing gloves so detectives were unable to lift fingerprints from the crime scene.
“We’re just going to have to burn some shoe leather and get some leads, and find out who these people are,” Robinson said.
When the officers arrived at the crime scene early Thursday, the suspects were seen fleeing in a gray Pontiac driven by Jefferson. Four officers, each in their own cars, pursued the Pontiac. Callahan had crashed his vehicle on Arroyo Circle near Wal-Mart on his way to the scene.
After the crash, Callahan was complaining of pain, Provost said, but sustained only minor injuries. He was taken by ambulance to San Jose Hospital, where he was treated and released.
“When you look at the car, you’re just amazed that Jimmy’s walking around and is doing a well as he is,” said Lanny Brown, assistant police chief. “I was real pleased when I got to the station and he was doing real well.”
Provost did not know the extent of damage to Callahan’s vehicle and said the accident is being investigated by CHP.
Gilroy police, along with CHP officers, pursued the suspects eastbound on Highway 152. The Pontiac came to a stop near Lovers Lane east of Gilroy; four suspects exited the vehicle and ran off into the mostly rural surroundings.
Three GPD officers, two CHP officers and three San Benito County Sheriff’s Deputies all participated in a manhunt that lasted about four hours. CHP also provided air support.
The search resulted in the arrest of Cross, suspected of burglary, conspiracy and resisting arrest. The resisting arrest charge stems from fleeing the scene both in the car and on foot, Robinson said, and Cross did not physically resist officers once he was found.
Cross’ three alleged partners in crime remained on the lam Friday morning. Robinson said they may be headed toward Southern California, as both Cross and Jefferson are from the Los Angeles area.
“Our guess is that that’s where they’re going to be migrating to,” he said. “I would doubt that they’re still in the area.”
As the manhunt got under way early Thursday, Gilroy police called the CHP office in Los Banos to ask for help in the pursuit of Jefferson, still traveling east on Highway 152. A Los Banos officer placed a “spike strip” across the highway, just west of Interstate 5, which Jefferson hit with the Pontiac’s left front tire, according to Mike Panelli, public affairs officer for the Los Banos CHP.
Jefferson continued to drive the car as the tire deflated, merging onto southbound I-5. The Pontiac became disabled at Etchevery undercrossing, just south of Highway 152 and Jefferson pulled onto the right shoulder of the interstate. CHP officers took her into custody without incident and turned her over to Gilroy police.
“We believe we recovered almost all of the stolen property,” Robinson said. “It was in the trunk of the car.”
Robinson did not know the value of the missing items or what was recovered. He said Zales is completing an inventory to identify what jewelry was stolen.
Representatives from the Zales Corporation said they would not comment on the incident, as the investigation is ongoing.
Zales offers rewards for information leading to the recovery of stolen property, according to a company spokeswoman. Rewards are a minimum of $2,500, but can be more, depending on the value of the property returned.
Cross and Jefferson are being held in county jail in San Jose.
Callahan, the officer injured in the single-car crash, will likely need a few days off to recover, Brown said, although he showed up Thursday to take his Sergeant’s test.
“He’s just about as solid and hardworking an individual as you want to have on the force,” Brown said.
