Hollister
– Hollister Police arrested three local men just after midnight
Wednesday for allegedly trying to make arrests of their own.
Hollister – Hollister Police arrested three local men just after midnight Wednesday for allegedly trying to make arrests of their own.
Eddie Castillo, 22, of San Juan Bautista; Randall Hernandez, 19, of Hollister; and Mario Mendoza, 26, of Hollister, were each arrested on felony counts of conspiracy and impersonating a police officer.
Hollister Police Officer Eric Olson arrested the three suspects after he found them in a dark-colored Crown Victoria with Oregon State Police markings at the intersection of Meridian Street and Monte Carlo Drive, said Officer Rosie Betanio, a police spokeswoman.
“Apparently the suspects that were arrested knew the people they pulled over,” Betanio said.
As Olson investigated further, he found that the occupants of the Crown Victoria had pulled over the other vehicle using a spotlight and the public address speaker, according to officials.
Hollister Police officers had received a “Be-On-the-Lookout” broadcast for the Crown Victoria at 9:22pm Tuesday after an Albertson’s security guard told police about a car driving through the parking lot sounding a siren and using a public address speaker.
Officer Olson was on patrol near Meridian Street and Monte Carlo Drive just after midnight Wednesday when he heard a public address speaker ordering a vehicle to pull over. Once he located the vehicles, he found three men from the front vehicle sitting on the sidewalk between the two cars. The suspects had allegedly ordered the three men out of their car, according to police officials.
The men later told police they thought Olson had come as backup for the suspects.
“The people thought they were actually being pulled over,” Betanio said.
The Crown Victoria used in the incident is registered to the Oregon State Police. The vehicle still has Oregon State Police markings and is equipped with a spotlight, public address system and a police scanner.
“Normally they remove all the equipment that makes it a police car,” Betanio said.
The police department has contacted the Oregon State Police about the vehicle but as of press time did not know how the suspects may have obtained the vehicle, Betanio said. However, police departments do auction off older police vehicles, Betanio said.
Castillo was in possession of a security guard badge similar to a police badge. Such badges can look very realistic, Betanio said.
Members of the public have certain precautions they can take against police impersonators, Betanio said.
“Normally for the Hollister Police Department our vehicles are marked vehicles,” Betanio said.
If an unmarked vehicle is used in a traffic stop, citizens may keep their window rolled up and ask for identification, or call 9-1-1 to confirm the stop is legitimate, Betanio said.
Castillo and Hernandez are being held at the San Benito County jail in lieu of $20,000 bail each. Mendoza was released to a bail bondsman Wednesday on $20,000 in bail. If convicted, each man could face up to one year in prison.
In February of 2001 Mendoza was arrested for possession of a weapon in a public place and removal of the gun’s serial number. In June of 2001 he was arrested for possession of marijuana, a concealed weapon in a vehicle and buying and selling a gun with no serial number. Since March of 2006 he has been arrested on two separate driving under the influence charges, according to San Benito County jail officials.
The Hollister Police Department encourages anyone who may have had contact with the suspects to contact officials at 831-636-4330.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335, or [email protected].
