Police Report: November 4 – 10

The Police Blotter highlights a partial list of incidents in the City and is distributed on a weekly basis. The Blotter provides the date, time, approximate location, a narrative summary of the incident, case number and the most serious arrest charge. Meanwhile, the Arrest Log provides a timely, chronological summary of all of the arrests made by the Santa Clara Police Department. It includes the name of the suspect(s), date of birth, city in which they reside, arrest date, time, location, case number as well as all of the charge(s) associated with the arrest. This information, located on the Santa Clara Police Department’s homepage (www.scpd.org), is updated daily and serves as the most comprehensive list of arrests made.

 

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Sex Registrant

Location: Stevens Creek Boulevard and Rodonovan Drive

An officer was patrolling the area of Stevens Creek Boulevard near Cabot Avenue when the officer noticed a vehicle with expired registration. The officer initiated a traffic enforcement stop.

A Records check revealed the male driver had a suspended driver’s license, was on searchable probation out of Santa Clara County and is a sex registrant out of compliance. The terms of his probation state he cannot have drugs without prescription and no substance abuse. A search of his vehicle, yielded drug paraphernalia and a controlled substance.

He was arrested and transported to the Santa Clara County Jail.

Time: 0210

Case Number: 18-10487

 

Warrant Arrest

Location:  3300 Block of Thomas Road

Officers were patrolling the area and observed a male subject in a parked car at Thomas Road and Norman Avenue.

Officers initiated contact. A Records check revealed the subject had two no-bail warrants for his arrest. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Santa Clara County Jail.

Time: 0929

Case Number: 18-10489

 

Monday, November 5, 2018

Vehicle Burglary

Location: 4400 Block of Stevens Creek Boulevard

Between 1805 and 1940 hours, a vehicle burglary occurred in a parking lot on the 4400 block of Stevens Creek Boulevard.

An unknown suspect(s) smashed the rear window of the victim vehicle and stole a laptop. The suspect(s) fled the scene prior to police arrival and remain at large.

Time: 2010

Case Number: 18-1105199

 

NOTE:  The City of Santa Clara went live with a new, state-of-the-art computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.

The Police Department selected an integrated suite of public safety software from Hexagon Safety & Infrastructure for emergency call handling, officer dispatch and incident management. Replacing an outdated and unsupported dispatch system, the Hexagon solution will expand the Santa Clara Police Department’s incident response capabilities through map-based views for calls, events and units in the field. The agency’s police officers also have new capabilities with their in-car computers, including real-time call information, enhanced mapping and historical data for calls for service to improve efficiency, situational awareness and officer safety. This innovative technology allows Public Safety Dispatchers to deploy priority resources based on GPS data and available resources.   

This $3 million upgrade was funded by the City of Santa Clara via a Capital Improvement Project. Police personnel spent the last two years researching the project, developing and testing the system to ensure the quality, accuracy and availability of critical information and increasing performance and productivity. This collaborative effort has been a success thanks to Hexagon, DELTAWRX, AT&T, Panasonic, Silke, Motorola and the City of Santa Clara’s Information Technology and Fire Departments. 

The second phase of this modernization project includes an integrated Records Management System which will improve the flow of information from call to report in one system. This system is expected to go live in Fall 2019. 

As a result of the new CAD system, Case Numbers have been replaced with Incident Numbers and have a new numbering format. Example: 18-1105065, reflects year (18), month (11), date (05), the incident number for that day (065). As a reminder, not all incidents are police related or result in a police report.

 

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Stolen Vehicle

Location:  1100 Block of Homestead Road

An officer was dispatched to the 1100 block of Homestead Road on the report of a suspicious vehicle.

Upon arrival, the officer made contact with a male subject located inside a U-Haul van. A Records check revealed the vehicle was reported stolen out of San Jose. The subject was placed under arrest.

A search of the subject’s person yielded drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Santa Clara County Jail.

Time: 2300

Case Number: 18-1106269

 

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Fraud

Location: 601 El Camino Real

The Santa Clara Police Department arrested 24-year-old Vamshidhar Reddy Kotla of Fremont, California in connection with a nationwide phone scam targeting elderly victims.

On November 7, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office in Richland, Montana contacted Santa Clara police investigators regarding a 77-year-old victim from Sydney, Montana who was contacted by phone by an unknown party and convinced that his grandson had been arrested and needed bail money. Over the course of several days and phone calls, the victim was instructed to send over $20,000 to an address in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara police investigators set up surveillance at the pick-up location where they later observed Kotla arrive and retrieve the package. Kotla was detained and later arrested.

Through the course of their investigation, Santa Clara police investigators located additional packages of cash in Kotla’s possession from other victims throughout California. In total, four victims were identified and over $28,000 in cash was recovered.

Kotla is believed to be an operational member of a group that targets elderly victims with various phone scams. In addition to this case, Santa Clara residents have reported similar scams to SCPD related to Medicare, prescription drugs, funerals, anti-aging products, investments, sweepstakes/contests/lottery, mortgages, home improvement, IRS/taxes and utility services (e.g. phone, internet, etc.). Fraudsters use different tactics, generally over the phone or in person, to get victims to fall for their schemes. Instead of engaging with someone who has contacted you, hang up and initiate a call to the companies you interact with via the phone number on your bill/statement.

Residents are encouraged to be wary of phone calls where the caller is requesting money to be sent. When in doubt, call the Police Department at 408-615-4700. The State Attorney General’s Office also has information online about scams directed at seniors.

Time: 0608

Case Number: 18-1107019

 

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Grand Theft

Location: 200 Block of Martin Avenue

An officer responded to the 200 block of Martin Avenue on the report of a prior theft.

Upon arrival, the officer spoke with the reporting party who stated sometime between 11/7/18 at 1900 hours and 11/8/18 at 0500 hours an unknown suspect(s) stole four wheels and tires off a customer’s vehicle in front of the business. There were no signs of entry to the vehicle, however the vehicle was raised with floor jacks that were left at the scene.

The suspect(s) remain at large.

Time: 0624

Case Number: 18-1108018

 

NOTE:  The City of Santa Clara conducted a Commodity Point of Distribution (CPOD) exercise in the George F. Haines International Swim Center parking lot. A CPOD is a public pick-up location for emergency supplies following a disaster. The need for a CPOD is based on lack of infrastructure to support normal distribution of food, water or other supplies. The Police, Fire and Parks and Recreation Departments participated in this exercise.

 

Friday, November 9, 2018

Robbery

Location:  800 Block of Gallatin Drive

A victim left a residence on the 800 block of Gallatin Drive and got into a parked vehicle. A subject appeared at the driver’s window, pointed a black handgun at the victim and asked for the victim’s belongings. The suspect opened the car door and took the victim’s belongings, including a “money bag” containing a large sum of cash, before fleeing the scene.

A search for the suspect had negative results.

Time: 0427

Case Number: 18-09020

 

Saturday, November 10, 2018

Possession of Stolen Property

Location:  Central Park

The victim had previously reported his bike stolen from the 900 block of Peppertree Lane on 10/25/18. Today, while at Central Park, he saw two males with his bike. Officers contacted the two males. The one with the bike said that he had purchased the bike from an unknown individual. He was arrested for possession of stolen property. His companion had two no-bail warrants and was also arrested.

The victim was happy to get his bike back!

Time: 1214

Case Number: 18-1110103