A suspect in a recent knife attack came to answer the door Monday while awaiting the arrival of pizza for dinner. She received the pizza but got an unpleasant surprise for dessert to go with it. The delivery man at the door was a Hollister police officer who recognized the woman and arrested her.
So why was an on-duty Hollister cop moonlighting in the pizza delivery business?
The woman’s suspected cohort in the April 17 knife attack at a local Quik Stop store had been arrested minutes before while carrying home the freshly baked pizza. Gang Officer Matt Weiss had arrested the pie-toting suspect – Eddie Degracia, 20 – walking in the 800 block of San Benito Street and requested that another officer fulfill the delivery and take the pizza to the man’s home, according to a police report. There, Officer Luis Toribio came across the second of three suspects in the assault – Desiree Rojas, 23 – who was surprised to get more than pizza when she answered the door.
“Degracia was carrying a freshly baked pizza on his way to his home,” according to the report. “Not wanting the pizza to go to waste, Gang Officer Weiss had the pizza delivered to the Degracia’s home. When Officer Luis Toribio delivered the pizza, he recognized Desiree Rojas (23) as she stepped outside to receive the pizza. She was also wanted for her participation in the same incident and she was also arrested.”
Police Chief David Westrick called it a matter of luck with the second suspect coming to the door and he didn’t believe there were any legal issues with a lacking search warrant.
“Not to drop something off, you don’t need a warrant,” Westrick said.
He said the pizza was like any other property retrieved during an arrest.
“Any kind of property like that, the choice is either book it or keep it,” Westrick said.
The suspects from Hollister were transported to the San Benito County Jail. Police booked Degracia for recommended charges including violation of assault with a deadly weapon and violation of probation. Rojas was booked on a recommended charge of assault with a deadly weapon.
A third suspect, Anthony Samuel Villareal, 20, is a Hollister resident described as 5 feet tall and 110 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.
“I think it was luck, honestly,” Westrick said of the pizza delivery. “It’s perfectly legal either way.”
Residents with information in the knife attack should call Officer Matt Weiss at 831 636-4330, ext. 132. People wishing to remain anonymous may call WeTip at (800) 78-CRIME. Information provided to WeTip may qualify for a reward.
