Officer nabs suspect with stolen items

Man was leaving Crescent Elk on Thursday morning

A Crescent City Police officer nabbed a suspected burglar Thursday morning who was leaving Crescent Elk Middle School with stolen items in tow, authorities said.

Officer Yeng Lo arrived at the middle school near the modular classrooms when he came across Jose Ibarra, 19, of Crescent City, pedaling away on his bicycle with a backpack and holding a laptop, Police Chief Doug Plack said.

Lo pursued Ibarra until he was about 20 feet away, Plack said.

“The suspect lost control of his bicycle and fell to the pavement,” said Plack.

Ibarra picked himself up, faced Lo and took a fighting stance, said Plack.

Lo pulled out his Taser and ordered Ibarra to get on the ground, and he complied, Plack said.

An investigation of the crime scene showed Ibarra had taken a few lap tops, power cords and other items, Plack said.

All six modular classrooms showed damages to back windows and screens, Plack said.

Items including a microwave, desks, chairs and computers were strewn about in some of the classrooms, Plack said.

“There were a lot of items damaged because of rummaging through the classrooms,” said Plack.

Ibarra was booked into the Del Norte County Jail on suspicion of burglary, receiving stolen property and malicious mischief.

The Sheriff’s Office assisted with the arrest.

This marks the third burglary arrest in the last two months the Police Department has made while the crime was taking place, Plack said.