Six men suspected of gang ties are facing multiple felony charges after a home invasion robbery on Goldrun Drive in Modesto, with police saying the investigation stretched from a backyard chase near Hubert Street to a residence in neighboring Ceres. Officers responded to the robbery in progress on Wednesday and ultimately arrested six people in connection with the case.
Police said they received a report of a robbery in progress at a home in the 440 block of Goldrun Drive, according to KCRA. When officers arrived, three suspects were returning to a nearby parked vehicle while a fourth took off on foot into a neighboring backyard, GV Wire reported. Officers set up a perimeter in response, according to the seed reporting from CBS Sacramento.
Fourth Suspect Found Hiding Near Hubert Street
The suspect who ran was eventually found hiding in a backyard near Hubert Street and taken into custody, the same account notes. That left two more suspects unaccounted for, and further investigation showed they had already left the scene before officers arrived.
Investigators didn't let that stop the case from moving forward. Using surveillance footage, they identified a vehicle linked to the two outstanding suspects, then relied on citywide camera systems, including automated license plate readers, to trace that vehicle to a residence in Ceres, per the same account. Detectives caught up with the pair as they were driving away from the Ceres home and took them into custody.
Clothing, Masks and Stolen Items Recovered
A search of the vehicle turned up items consistent with what had been stolen in the robbery, while a search of the Ceres residence recovered additional evidence, including clothing and masks investigators believe were worn during the crime, the report states. All six men were ultimately identified as suspected gang members.
Police identified the six as Alexander Rincon, 26; Marco Vega, 31; Manuel Lopez, 23; Jose Reyuelta, 20; and Abrahan Rivera, 31, all of Modesto, along with George Gonzales, 39, of Oakland. They were booked on multiple felony charges, including robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, and criminal street gang participation.
License Plate Readers Under Scrutiny Elsewhere
The use of automated license plate readers in cracking the case echoes broader conversations happening in Modesto around the technology. A March report from the Modesto Bee noted that the tool can help law enforcement identify vehicles connected to violent crimes and support time-sensitive investigations. That same report pointed out that under state law, data from the readers can only be shared with California public agencies, a limit that has shaped how local departments handle the technology.
