Keizer Police Report # CN19-3907--Arrest Of Burglary Suspects (Photo) -10/23/19

Arrested: Gerardo Javier Lara-Alvarez 21 years, Salem resident

Charges: burglary 1, theft 1 (three counts), unlawful entry into a motor vehicle

 

Arrested: Jesus Mercado-Urenda 19 years of age, Salem resident

Charges: burglary 1, possession of burglar tools

 

On October 21, 2019 a resident in the 4600 block of Clark Ave NE reported a theft from their vehicle that included the theft of a 9 mm pistol. There were no suspects in that case.

On October 22, 2019 at around 1:35 PM, Keizer Police officers were dispatched to a suspicious activity in the area of the 4600 block of Clark Ave NE. Officers were told that two teenaged males had ridden to the location on bicycles and jumped over a fence, into the backyard of the location. This was the same location of the theft that occurred the day before. Upon arriving in the area, a responding officer observed two men, later identified as Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda, exiting the garage of the victim residence on Clark Ave. The officer yelled for the men to stop, but they refused, riding away on their bicycles.

Additional police officers arrived in the area and a perimeter was set. Officers discovered that Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda abandoned their bicycles and fled on foot, through backyards, between 12th Ave NE and Harcourt Ave NE. During this initial response, officers were able to determine that the two men had committed a burglary to the residence on Clark. Inside that residence, officers found several firearms staged next to the back door.

A Keizer Police K9 team responded to the scene and a track of the fleeing suspects was initiated. Mr. Lara-Alvarez was quickly found hiding in bushes in a backyard in the 4600 block of Harcourt Ave NE. Following K9 announcements, Mr. Lara-Alvarez refused to surrender to police, remaining hidden, and was bitten by the K9 before being taken into custody. He was subsequently treated at Salem Health for minor bite wounds to his right arm. Mr. Lara-Alvarez was found in possession of pistol magazines, determined to be stolen from the burglary. Following Mr. Lara-Alvarez’ arrest, a search of the area continued for Mr. Mercado-Urenda.

A few minutes later, Mr. Mercado-Urenda was found hiding in a wood pile alongside a residence in the 4600 block of Harcourt Ave. He surrendered to police and was taken into custody without incident. In searching the area, investigators found checkbooks taken during the burglary. During initial contact with responding officers, Mr. Lara-Alvarez was wearing a backpack that he later discarded while fleeing. That backpack was also determined stolen from the vehicle the day before and inside it, investigators found the reported stolen 9mm pistol as well as a second 9mm pistol and a .25 caliber pistol, both taken during the burglary.

 Mr. Lara-Alvarez and Mr. Mercado-Urenda were booked into the Marion County jail on the listed charges.