A landscaping job near Apricot Avenue in Campbell turned into an armed robbery scene on May 27, ending with a high-risk traffic stop, recovered tools and two people under arrest, police say.
According to the Campbell Police Department, officers were called to the area after a report that a male suspect had brandished a firearm and stolen landscaping and garden tools from a worker in a crew. The official incident log lists robbery, conspiracy and theft among the alleged offenses and notes that both suspects were later located and booked into the county jail.
In a Facebook post, the Campbell Police Department said its Real-Time Intelligence Center (INFORM) and automated license plate reader system flagged a red vehicle linked to the theft and alerted officers in the field. Police then conducted a controlled, high-risk traffic stop on the car and recovered the victim's stolen equipment.
How officers tracked the suspects
The Campbell Police Department incident report states that officers used the license plate information to locate the suspect vehicle and that the victim's tools were found during the stop. The report identifies the arrestees as 39-year-old John Carlos Esquivel and 31-year-old Reyna Guadalupe Palma Garcia and notes that the pair initially fled the Apricot Avenue scene before being tracked down by Campbell officers.
Charges, custody and evidence
According to the Facebook post from the Campbell Police Department, officers also located methamphetamine on one of the suspects. Esquivel was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail and remains in custody, while Garcia was released after booking. The department said both suspects have an extensive criminal history.
Legal implications
Campbell police booked Esquivel and Garcia on robbery, conspiracy, theft and related charges. Those offenses can be filed as felonies in California and carry substantial penalties if prosecutors decide to pursue them. The suspects were booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail, which handles county bookings and transfers, according to the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. Charging decisions will be made by the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office as the investigation continues.
Investigators say the case remains active and that additional charges or updates could follow as detectives gather more evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Campbell Police Department's non-emergency line.
