Trio of Alleged Copper Thieves Jailed After Fleeing Irwindale Police

Written by AARON CASTREJON
CityWatch Editor

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IRWINDALE - Officers discovered freshly-stolen underground conduit reportedly taken from an industrial yard April 30.

The theft took place at a utility yard operated by Henkels & McCoy, 13570 Live Oak Ln., Sunday morning.

Arriving officers found a white SUV inside of the property, which is highly restricted. The vehicle failed to yield during an attempted traffic stop and it was driven a short distance before three occupants inside ran away, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

The three suspects scaled a perimeter fence and ran onto lanes of the nearby 605 freeway. All three suspects were found and taken into custody. Amongst the stolen conduit were burglary tools likely used in the grand theft.

Arrested was West Covina resident Eric Graham, 37, Jesus Soto, 33, and Abraham Saldivar, 39. The latter two are residents of El Monte.

All three suspects were booked on suspicion of grand theft, possession of burglary tools and delay/resist a police officer in the course of duty charges. They also had a number of various outstanding warrants, according to the Irwindale Police Department.

“This call happened during our shift overlap. Officers who worked the previous shift had already changed out, heard the call go out over the radio, suited back up and responded to assist,” according to the Irwindale Police Department in a written statement. “One officer was already on his way home and returned.”