Gun Stolen from Benton Police Car Found in Jacksonville, 4 Arrested
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 14, 2012
An investigation into the theft of guns from a Benton police car that was parked in a Jacksonville neighborhood last week has led to four arrests.
The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office says two of the suspects are directly tied to one of the stolen police guns.
Rigoberto Zelaya and Toijean Zelaya, both 27, are husband and wife. Police say they were in possession of a Benelli shotgun reported stolen from the Benton police car but also had a Rossi .38 special reported stolen in Little Rock and a Sig Sauer 9mm reported stolen in Sherwood.
The Zelayas are both charged with theft by receiving (firearm), possession of marijuana, possession of meth, simultaneous possession of drugs and guns, and maintaining a drug house. Mrs. Zelaya, who was booked into the Pulaski County Jail under the last name of Avila, has an additional charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Zelaya was also placed on hold for Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations.
Two other people have been arrested along with the Zelayas; Carlos Fernandez, 35, (also known as Charlie Brown) and Elmer Augusto, 25.
Police say Fernandez was in possession of a Glock 27 (.40-caliber) reported stolen in Little Rock.
He is also charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearm, theft by receiving (firearm) and possession of marijuana.
Augusto is charged with fleeing and driving without a license.
Augusto and Fernandez were also placed on hold for Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations.
The Jacksonville Police Department (JPD) says the following items were taken from the Benton police car last week in the Base Meadows Subdivision.
The stolen police gear (valued at $4,390) included:
Deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office made the arrests.
"To have an incident where these people have so many, leads us to the fact that there will be further investigation because it is kind of unusual to have that many and how did they get hold of them, that's the question," said Lt. Carl Minden.
Right now Jacksonville police say detectives are working on tracking down the second stolen gun taken from the same Benton police officer's car.
Jacksonville police are reporting all of the cars were unlocked but Benton police are still investigating the officer's vehicle. It is a breach of protocol for an officer to leave an official department issued vehicle unlocked with weapons inside.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call (501) 982-3191 or text users can send their tip to: "CRIMES" (274637) with the keyword JAXPD.
The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office says two of the suspects are directly tied to one of the stolen police guns.
Rigoberto Zelaya and Toijean Zelaya, both 27, are husband and wife. Police say they were in possession of a Benelli shotgun reported stolen from the Benton police car but also had a Rossi .38 special reported stolen in Little Rock and a Sig Sauer 9mm reported stolen in Sherwood.
The Zelayas are both charged with theft by receiving (firearm), possession of marijuana, possession of meth, simultaneous possession of drugs and guns, and maintaining a drug house. Mrs. Zelaya, who was booked into the Pulaski County Jail under the last name of Avila, has an additional charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Mr. Zelaya was also placed on hold for Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations.
Two other people have been arrested along with the Zelayas; Carlos Fernandez, 35, (also known as Charlie Brown) and Elmer Augusto, 25.
Police say Fernandez was in possession of a Glock 27 (.40-caliber) reported stolen in Little Rock.
He is also charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearm, theft by receiving (firearm) and possession of marijuana.
Augusto is charged with fleeing and driving without a license.
Augusto and Fernandez were also placed on hold for Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations.
The Jacksonville Police Department (JPD) says the following items were taken from the Benton police car last week in the Base Meadows Subdivision.
The stolen police gear (valued at $4,390) included:
- rifle and case
- shotgun
- bulletproof vest
- tear gas
- ammunition
- trauma medical bag
Deputies from the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office made the arrests.
"To have an incident where these people have so many, leads us to the fact that there will be further investigation because it is kind of unusual to have that many and how did they get hold of them, that's the question," said Lt. Carl Minden.
Right now Jacksonville police say detectives are working on tracking down the second stolen gun taken from the same Benton police officer's car.
Jacksonville police are reporting all of the cars were unlocked but Benton police are still investigating the officer's vehicle. It is a breach of protocol for an officer to leave an official department issued vehicle unlocked with weapons inside.
Anyone with information is encouraged to call (501) 982-3191 or text users can send their tip to: "CRIMES" (274637) with the keyword JAXPD.
