(Valley Springs, CA) On 08/15/12 at approx. 11:39 PM Calaveras
Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 4700 block of
Driver Road in Valley Springs for a possible burglary in progress. Prior
to the deputy’s arrival the suspect vehicle left the house travelling
westbound on Highway 26. Once at the scene the deputy contacted the
reporting party, a neighbor of the victim residence, who provided a
description of the suspects (two Caucasian adult men) and the suspect
vehicle, a red 2002 Ford Escort. As the investigation continued at the
residence another deputy continued on Highway 26 and was able to catch
up to the suspect vehicle, which continued west on Highway 26 towards
Stockton. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol and San
Joaquin County Sheriff’s Deputies, a traffic stop was conducted on the
suspect vehicle near Jack Tone Road and Highway 26. At the time of the
stop the vehicle exterior was completely loaded down with $500 worth of
miscellaneous scrap metal.
A Calaveras Sheriff’s deputy interviewed the vehicle’s driver,
Stephen Devin Jeffery (28) of Stockton and the passenger, Charles
Bradford Strelow-Raney (32) of Stockton. Arrestee Strelow-Raney told the
deputy that while driving back to Stockton from Glencoe they passed the
victim residence. As they drove by he and Suspect Jeffrey saw the scrap
metal lying about in front of the house. Thinking that the house was
abandoned they thought it was okay that they take the metal without
permission. They said that they never entered the house.
The deputies learned that the house was vacant and up for sale. They
contacted the real estate company, who provided the contact information
for the owner of the residence. The owner stated that no one had
permission to be at the house or to remove anything from the property,
and wished to pursue criminal charges against the suspects.
Both suspects were arrested, transported and booked into the
Calaveras County jail on the charge of Penal Code 496: Possession of
Stolen Property >$400.00 (felony).
