SAPD arrests cat burglary suspect who was also busted for meth possession

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Detectives make arrest of suspect in Burglary/Kidnap case

BASED ON LEADS OBTAINED AFTER MEDIA STORIES DETECTIVES RECEIVED A TIP THAT THE SUSPECT MAY BE THOMAS WALKER A LOCAL TRANSIENT. AS DETECTIVES WERE WORKING ON LEADS TO FULLY IDENTIFY AND LOCATE THOMAS WALKER THEY RECEIVED AN ADDITIONAL TIP FROM A PERSON WHO WATCHED MEDIA REPORTS AND SAW THE COMPOSITE AND THE INFORMATION ON THE STOLEN BEACH CRUISER. SHE CONTACTED THE DETECTIVE AND ADVISED HIM THAT A MALE SUBJECT ABANDONED THE BIKE IN HER APARTMENT COMPLEX AS WELL AS CLOTHING THAT HAD BEEN DESCRIBED IN THE MEDIA REPORTS. SHE IDENTIFIED WALKER AS A PERSON WHO RETURNED TO HER APARTMENT COMPLEX LOOKING FOR THE ABANDONED BIKE.

DETECTIVES REVEAL THAT IN FACT THE SUBJECT THOMAS WALKER WHO THEY BELIEVE WAS THE SUSPECT BASED ON IDENTIFICATION FROM WITNESSES WAS IN FACT IN CUSTODY FROM AN UNDERCOVER DRUG OPERATION THAT WAS CONDUCTED THE EVENING OF WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 IN THE 1400 BLOCK OF EAST 1ST STREET BLOCKS AWAY FROM WHERE THE ORIGINAL CRIMES OCCURRED. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY FOR POSSESSION FOR SALES OF METHAMPHETAMINE WHICH HE SOLD TO UNDERCOVER OFFICERS. BAIL IS $1 MILLION. HE WAS BOOKED THAT NIGHT. AS OF LAST NIGHT BASED ON POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION BY VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, ADDITIONAL CHARGES WILL BE ADDED.

Original Details:

LOCATION: 500 Blk N. Lyon Street

SUSPECT: Male Black, 40 years old, 5’05” tall, 160-170 lbs., med build, short
black/gray hair, dark complexion, black “snow” type jacket, with black hooded sweatshirt
underneath with unknown red writing or logo on front, dark blue denim jeans, white
sneakers. Suspect may be transient.

VEHICLE: Blue Schwinn Beach Cruiser with white wall tires. (Taken From Victim#2)

SYNOPSIS: On 02/25/13, at approx. 0700 hrs, the suspect entered the victim’s
residence via an unlocked door. Once inside the suspect stole $100.00 from victim’s
purse while she slept. The suspect was then confronted by the victim’s son. The suspect calmly fled the residence.
Later in the day approx. 1350 hrs, the same suspect returned to the same complex and forcibly entered a different apartment via a window. Once inside the suspect was confronted by a female resident, the suspect grabbed the victim and forced her to remain in her home for approx. 2-3 hours, refusing to allow the victim to leave her residence. The victim in fear for her safety complied with the suspect’s demands to cook for him while the suspect ingested narcotics. The suspect then fled on the victim’s blue beach cruiser. The suspect may be a transient that frequents the area.

Address/Location
Santa Ana Police Department
60 Civic Center Plaza
Santa Ana, CA 92701