The following is the Avalon’s Sheriff’s Stations significant incidents report for the period of Feb. 22 to Feb. 28, 2024.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Many people who are arrested do not get prosecuted in the first place and many who are prosecuted do not get convicted.
February 22
- A sergeant on patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. During the stop, the sergeant determined the driver and passenger were acting suspiciously. He conducted an investigation and arrested Ruben Mulgado, 41, of Avalon, on suspicion of being drunk in public and arrested on suspicion of Luis Tamayo Quezada, 39, of Avalon, possession of methamphetamine. He booked both of them at Avalon Station.
•Deputies responded to the 200 block of Metropole Avenue for a petty theft/vandalism report call. The informant stated a suspect stole 4 metal signs and a rain gutter down spout. The incident was captured on video and the deputy recognized the suspect as Luis Gutierrez. The deputy searched the area and was unable to locate the suspect.
February 23
- Deputies received a call from the location of the petty theft. The caller stated the man who had committed the theft of the signs was back at the location. The deputies walked out the rear door of the station, recognized the suspect as Luis Gutierrez, 36, of Avalon, and arrested him on suspicion petty theft. He was booked at Avalon Sheriff’s Station.
- Deputies responded to a disturbance on the 100 block of Sumner Avenue. The callers stated a man and woman were arguing on the sidewalk. The deputies observed the feuding couple and spoke to both of them separately. The woman said she was on a day trip to the island with her boyfriend to celebrate her birthday. Her boyfriend had too many cocktails and wanted to argue. She did not want to engage in conflict and left to enjoy the Island by herself. The man said she could go by herself and they would meet later once they cooled off. There was no evidence of any crime.
February 24
- Deputies responded to Bird Park for a disturbance call. The informant stated a man was knocking on her door and she had a protection order against the man. The man was gone when the deputies arrived. The deputies wrote a criminal report and began actively searching for the suspect.
- Deputies responded to Sumner Avenue for disturbance call. The informant stated he was detaining a man who had stolen a surveillance camera from the outside of his home. The deputies arrived and recognized the man as the same suspect who had violated the protection order earlier in the day. The man saw the deputy and sergeant arrive on scene and immediately ran away while cursing at them. The victim then located his camera and took possession of his property. The deputy and sergeant left the location to locate the suspect.
- A deputy on patrol saw a man climbing the light pole, screaming and running in the street in front of the sheriff’s station. The deputies immediately recognized the suspect as Luis Gutierrez. They detained the man due to his erratic and strange behavior. They conducted an investigation and arrested Luis Gutierrez, 36, Avalon on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance (stimulant). The suspect was booked at Avalon Sheriff’s Station.
February 25
- Deputies were contacted by a man who stated his golf cart was stolen by Luis Gutierrez and left at Bird Park. The man told deputies he received this information from his friend. The deputies spoke to the victim and attempted to interview his friend who allegedly witnessed the crime. The man’s friend refused to speak to deputies and said he did not want to get involved and would not testify. A stolen vehicle report was written.
February 26
- A deputy conducted a traffic stop on the 200 block of Clarissa Avenue. The driver was cited for talking on his cellphone while driving.
- A deputy conducted a traffic stop on the 100 block of Clarissa Avenue. The driver was cited for failing to stop for the posted stop sign.
- Deputies responded to the 300 block of Crescent Avenue for a vandalism report call. The caller stated a man vandalized the camera above the ATM. While conducting an investigation, the man who broke the camera entered the bank and told the deputies he was fooling around and pulled the camera off the wall while trying to hang from it. A report was written and the suspect was issued a citation to appear in court for the violation.
February 27
- Deputies received a disturbance call involving 2 men on Metropole Avenue. Upon arrival, they immediately recognized one of the men as the suspect in the protective order violation. They detained him and placed Suspect Jesus Meison Tejeda, 23, of Avalon, under arrest for suspcionof violating a protective order. The man was arrested and transported Overtown.
