On Sunday, January 25, 2020, Coalinga Police Officers responded to the Fox Hollow sub-development after residents reported unknown suspects had broken into numerous community mailboxes. During the investigation, surveillance video was obtained showing a white Nissan Altima was used during the crime.
On January 26, 2020, Coalinga Police Officers responded to the 400 block of Buena Vista Lane on another report of suspects breaking into community mailboxes. The suspects fled the scene prior to police arrival, but surveillance video was obtained during the investigation showing two males wearing red T-shirts were responsible for the crime. The video also showed that the same white Nissan Altima was involved.
As officers canvassed the sub-development, the reporting party spotted the white Nissan Altima parked on Fourth and Glenn Streets. Upon officer’s arrival, they located the white Nissan parked in front of an apartment complex in the same area. Officers then saw 31-year-old Jonathan Crum exiting an apartment, wearing clothing that matched the surveillance video. Upon seeing police, Crum fled on foot with officers giving chase.
Crum was pursued for several blocks, over fences and into the backyards of numerous residents. He was finally taken into custody with the assistance of a homeowner who threw a metal rod, causing Crum to trip.
Officers then contacted and arrested 59-year-old Paul Bailey at the apartment where Crum was seen exiting.
Bailey had been identified as a co-conspirator via the surveillance video.
A search warrant was executed at the apartment, which led to the recovery of numerous mail items suspected of being stolen from various areas of the City.
At this time, the Coalinga Police Department is processing the recovered mail and will work with the United States Postal Service to return the mail to respective owners.
The police department would like to take a moment to thank those members of the public that aided with this investigation, which led to the identification and arrest of the suspects. Police are working to link Crum and Bailey to other mail thefts that have occurred in recent weeks.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Edgar Cervantes, or any other information related to this investigation, is asked to contact the Coalinga Police Department’s Public Safety Dispatch Center at (559) 935-1525.
“All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law”