Thief Breaks Into Stockton Firehouse
STOCKTON (CBS13) — An intruder broke into a south Stockton firehouse early Monday morning threatening a firefighter and stealing a number of electronics.
The fire department on Sonora Street has had intruders on its property before, but this was the first time someone had gotten inside the firehouse, near where the firemen sleep.
"It's disturbing to have someone in your space that we don't know," said fire engineer Ralph Ibarra.
Ibarra and others were sleeping at the time when 23-year-old Jamal Davis, who police describe as a transient in the area, made his way in. Fire crews say Davis broke through a small 2' x 1' garage door window, and crawled into their firehouse.
"This Is our house. This is where we spend a third of our lives, so it's like somebody breaking into your home," said Ibarra.
Davis then allegedly went into the office and stole an iPad, a computer, and some other property, before encountering a firefighter who had just happened to arrive early for his shift.
The firefighter saw a man he didn't recognize wearing one of their safety jackets that he had picked up.
Davis then allegedly threatened the firefighter, say he had a gun.
"He told our member that he was gonna shoot him if he didn't let him go," said Battalion Chief Lane Healy.
The suspect dropped the electronics and fled the same way he came in.
"Our members were chasing him down the road trying to stop him," said Ibarra.
"Officers were called and they apprehended the suspect shortly after," said Rosie Calderon of the Stockton Police Department.
Stockton police were quick to respond and caught up with Davis just a block away, putting an end to what was an alarming morning that fire fighters say could've ended much worse.
"Our very first concern was that nobody got hurt in this incident ...the property can always be replaced or repaired, our lives can't."
Meanwhile, Jamal Davis was booked for burglary, robbery, vandalism, possession of stolen property and resisting arrest.
All the stolen items were returned.
