Crime & Safety
Six Home Burglaries Preliminary Hearing
A judge said a South City officer was justified in stopping two men before they were linked to a series of burglaries.
Jesus Alberto Gomez of South San Francisco, who was arrested during a probation check on San Felipe Ave. in August and linked to six burglaries, appeared in court Tuesday.
South City detective Matthew McNichol testified that in an interview, the defendant admitted to being involved in six specific burglaries in the Buri Buri neighborhood this year -- five in Feb. and March.
According to testimony on Tuesday from McNichol and several South City police officers, they discovered stolen items at Gomez's residence and his girlfriend's residence, including a gold Pulsar watch, a rifle, a laptop, handcuffs and a DVD player.
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Also in court yesterday, Judge Richard Livermore denied the defense's motion to suppress evidence related to the initial encounter between a patrol officer and Gomez and Henry Perez on Aug. 15.
"Without evidence, it's not a lawful detention," said defense attorney David Franklin said, implying that the officer should not have detained Gomez and Perez while they were walking along San Felipe Ave. in the first place.
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According to testimony from an officer, when Gomez and Perez were stopped on San Felipe Ave., Gomez volunteered that he had marijuana on his person. The officer also found an unloaded handgun on Gomez.
A records check revealed that the gun was registered to the owner of a home in the 300 block of Serra Drive that had recently been burglarized.
On Sept. 19 , the co-defendent, Henry Perez, was dismissed because of insufficient evidence.
Gomez has pleaded not guilty. He remains in custody on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court again on Oct. 24.
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