A man suspected of residential burglary was arrested Tuesday afternoon after police received a 911 call from a woman who was pursuing him on foot after the alleged incident.
According to officials, the Beverly Hills Police Department received a 911 call at about 3:20pm on Tuesday as she pursued a man who she said had kicked her in the chest and stolen her purse after she discovered him burglarizing the home in which she worked as a nanny.
The incident allegedly took place in a home on the 800 block of North Roxbury in Beverly Hills. The victim told police that she pursued the man on foot from the house when he fled the scene, and she was picked up by a good Samaritan to continue the chase. She said the suspect dropped her purse during the chase, at which point the good Samaritan recovered it and returned it to her.
Officers were at the scene within 1 minute of the victim's 911 call, according to the police. They observed a person matching the victim's description of the suspect fleeing on foot. Police established a perimeter in the 700 block of North Linden Avenue and found the suspect about an hour later, hiding in a backyard.
The man was taken into custody and was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. The woman was also taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries, and according to police she later identified the man as the person she encountered in the home and pursued.
Police have also said that they searched for a second suspect, who was not located.
About First Degree Burglary Charges
First degree burglary, also referred to as residential burglary, involves entering another's residence with the intention of committing theft or a felony. Whether the intended theft or felony was committed is irrelevant in a first degree burglary charge; as only entering the property and having the intention of committing the crime are necessary parts of such a charge.
First degree burglary is a felony offense in California, with a potential sentence of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. It is also a "strike" under California's three strikes law. Certain serious or violent felony offenses are classified as strikes, and they will remain on a person's record and influence future penalties if the defendant is convicted of another strike in the future. A second strike may result in double the normal penalties for that offense, and a third strike may result in up to life in prison.
The suspect in the case discussed above may face felony charges for residential burglary and up to six years in prison, depending on what evidence law enforcement is able to provide the prosecuting attorney. The victim's identification of the suspect will not work in his favor, but this does not have to equal a conviction.
Every arrestee or suspect has the right to legal counsel, and a competent criminal defense attorney can look at every aspect of a case to determine whether a situation involving mistaken identity, a constitutional rights violation or police error could support an effective defense against burglary or other criminal charges.
At Lessem & Newstat, we provide hard-hitting defense counsel to clients throughout Los Angeles. If you were arrested or have been named as a suspect in a criminal case, do not wait to involve a lawyer. The steps you take at this point in time may directly influence any future criminal charges and the outcome of a trial. An early, proactive approach is your best bet. Call our firm today to learn more.