CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers have arrested two Clearlake residents found in possession of an elderly man's wallet, as well as drugs and a weapon.
Richard Brandon, 37, and 48-year-old Irma Brandon were taken into custody on Thursday, according to a report from Sgt. Nick Bennett.
On Wednesday a 79-year-old Clearlake resident reported he had been shopping at the Grocery Outlet store on Olympic Drive when he left his wallet at the checkout stand, Bennett said.
When the man returned to pick it up, he discovered it missing. Bennett said the man immediately went to the Clearlake Police Department to report the theft.
Clearlake Police Det. Tomas Riley took the initial report and contacted Grocery Outlet to ascertain if the theft had been recorded on surveillance camera. It had, Bennett said.
Riley interviewed Grocery Outlet employees concerning the theft and requested their assistance should the suspects return, according to Bennett.
At 1:50 p.m. Thursday Riley received information the suspects had returned to the Grocery Outlet store, Bennett said.
Bennett said that Riley – accompanied by Det. Ryan Peterson – responded to Grocery Outlet and contacted Richard Brandon and Irma Brandon.
After being advised they had been observed on security cameras taking the victim's wallet, they admitted the theft and multiple uses of a credit card that was in the wallet as well as spending the cash that was reported to have been in the wallet, Bennett said.
While searching the suspects’ vehicle, Bennett said additional violations relating to narcotic paraphernalia and possessing a weapon with the serial number ground off were discovered by detectives.
Both suspects were booked into Lake County Jail on charges related to the theft and use of the stolen credit card as well as the drug paraphernalia and weapon charges, Bennett said.
The Clearlake Police Department reminds citizens that they need to be attentive of their valuables while in public and not leave those items unattended – whether it's a wallet on a checkout stand or a purse in a shopping cart.
Anybody with further information on this case is encouraged to contact Det. Tomas Riley at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.