A former Morgan Hill resident who had returned to the city
within the last year was arrested July 18 at his place of business
after a tip to Morgan Hill police led to a discovery that he had
two outstanding warrants.
Morgan Hill – A former Morgan Hill resident who had returned to the city within the last year was arrested July 18 at his place of business after a tip to Morgan Hill police led to a discovery that he had two outstanding warrants.
Josue Duran, 28, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail after officers discovered a warrant for his arrest for being under the influence of a controlled substance and a felony warrant for burglary and theft, according to Morgan Hill police Cmdr. David Swing.
“It’s not the crime of the century, but it’s a case that’s seven years old, so of course we are happy to make an arrest,” he said.
The original incident took place June 16, 2000, Swing said, as Duran was working at the Shell gas station at East Dunne Avenue and Walnut Grove Drive and reported that he was robbed. He told police he was behind the counter, and suspects wearing all black came into the store and took the money from the register.
“Through our investigation, we determined that’s not how it went down,” Swing said. “When confronted, he acknowledged that things didn’t go like that. He also had symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance.”
He was originally arrested and released for filing a false report with police. When he failed to appear in court as scheduled, a warrant was issued. After review of the case, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office filed additional charges of felony burglary and theft.
Duran apparently left California for Oklahoma without turning himself in. He was apparently arrested on April 19, 2006, in Moffett, Okla., but records officials at the Sequoyah County (Okla.) Criminal Justice Center were unable to divulge the charges or confirm that Duran had spent time in Jail there.
On July 18, MHPD officers received an anonymous tip that Duran was back in Morgan Hill and working at McDonald’s restaurant in the Vineyard Town Center. Officers Brandon Richards and Mike Nelsen arrested him without incident on the outstanding warrants.
“It’s always a great thing when we can wrap up something like this, especially with the help of the community,” Swing said. “I guess it goes to show that you have to face the music.”
