Quick Response by Air Support Unit Helps in Arrest of Home Burglary Suspect
Published: 10/27/2017
This afternoon on Friday, October 27, 2017, at about 1:20 p.m., patrol officers and Air Support Unit (Air-1) responded to the 19900 block of Westerly Drive in Orangecrest for a residential burglary in progress. A witness called the Police & Fire Dispatch Center to report an unknown suspect had shattered the rear sliding glass door of her neighbor's residence and entered the house. Air-1 arrived overhead and assisted in directing ground units to the house. Just as officers arrived on scene, Air-1 spotted the suspect fleeing from the rear of the victim's house and jump a block wall into the rear yard of an adjacent house.
The suspect continued to flee through the neighborhood within Air-1's sights and ignoring their PA commands, where he attracted the attention of an observant neighbor who lived nearby. This neighbor chased the suspect into the driveway of a residence where he eventually gave up. Officers quickly arrived and safely took the suspect into custody.
The investigation determined the victim's house had been ransacked after the suspect smashed the rear slider door, but was interrupted before he could steal any property.
Jesus Regalado, 19-years-old of Riverside, was arrested and later booked into jail for residential burglary.
As the crew of Air-1 stated, "we are thankful for the extraordinary efforts of these awesome neighbors who were willing to assist us, and glad no one was injured. We do need to caution everyone that they should carefully consider their own personal safety before confronting a fleeing suspect."
The Riverside Police Department would also like to thank the observant neighbor who witnessed the burglary and immediately called the police. Combined with the quick response from Air-1 and our officers, along with the neighbor who helped detain the suspect, there is one less criminal out there right now victimizing our community members.
