Persistence pays off in finding wanted woman

Persistence pays off in finding wanted woman

SONOMA – The Daly City police had issued a warrant for the arrest of Christina Marie Pruitt one year ago, in March 2013. The 57-year-old was wanted for felony financial elder abuse in a case the San Francisco Bay Area police detectives had investigated. However, they had lost contact with her, and she remained on their wanted list. She had been living in Los Gatos, south of Daly City in Santa Clara County.

In September the detectives learned that Pruitt had taken up residence in Sonoma, and according to the Sonoma Sheriff’s office, they contacted the Sonoma County Property Crimes unit to ask for their assistance in apprehending her. Their only lead being her address at a condominium in the La Mancha complex, on La Mancha Way and Riverside Drive, the detectives tried several times to try to locate her, but she never appeared to be home. They interviewed neighbors, who said they had not seen her in a long time. The detectives suspected she had gone back into hiding. They asked neighbors to contact them if they saw Pruitt back at the address.

On Monday this week, a resident finally saw Pruitt at the condo, and called the Sheriff’s office. Deputies came to the location and saw that Pruitt’s car was parked there in the driveway, and approaching the unit, heard her television on inside. Deputies knocked on the door, identifying themselves, but were met with silence, even more so when the TV was turned off. As she refused to come out, deputies wanted to go in, but the warrant they had for her did not include the current address of the La Mancha condo.

The detectives had to patiently obtain a new warrant with her current address, which was granted. They were able to enter the unlocked front door, and found Pruitt inside, hiding in the bedroom. They arrested the woman, who lists her current occupation as chauffeur, and booked her at the Sonoma County Jail for the outstanding warrant, with bail set at $50,000. They notified Daly City police, and she should be transferred to San Mateo County soon.

Persistence pays off in finding wanted woman was last modified: March 26th, 2014 by admin
Categories: San Mateo, Sonoma

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Ken Kiunke

Ken Kiunke is a northern California writer covering Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Sacramento Counties.