Earlier this week, a series of arrests were made in connection to a theft spree targeting a Tractor Supply Co. store in Apple Valley. San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department deputies initially observed a red Chevrolet Tahoe departing from the retailer's premises early Tuesday morning, leading to a traffic stop where multiple items, confirmed stolen, were uncovered. According to KTLA, the individuals arrested in the Tahoe were William Joseph Dean, 43; Richard Raymond Maldonado, 32; and Matthew Michael Verax, 30, while a 58-year-old woman was detained but not arrested.
Dean and Verax remain in custody without bail due to previous arrests, facing possible charges of conspiracy and burglary. In contrast, Maldonado, charged with conspiracy, has been released on bail. Later the same day, another individual, Joshua Harris, 32, was arrested after deputies located a vehicle linked to the previous theft of a generator from the Tractor Supply store. Nixle reports that Harris is being held without bail given the addition of felony warrants out of San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
The authorities confirmed that the proactive patrols were a response to recent theft reports at that location, indicative of a pattern that prompted increased law enforcement attention. The arrests spanned from the early hours of around 3:05 am, when deputies stopped the Tahoe filled with dog food and wood pellets, to later in the night when the second vehicle associated with a generator theft was apprehended.
All suspects were booked at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto, with their case numbers being documented by the sheriff's department. The Apple Valley Police Department is continuing its efforts to investigate these incidents and has encouraged anyone with information to come forward. Individuals can contact deputies Ray or Mammolito at the Apple Valley Station by calling 760-240-7400, or if preferring anonymity, can provide tips online or via the We-Tip Hotline.
