Woodland’s “Most Wanted” Man arrested again; He’d Tried To Turn Himself In Days Earlier
Yolo Sheriff’s deputies arrested Mario Lopez during a routine traffic stop in Madison on March 13 about 12:30 am. Lopez is now lodged in the Yolo County Jail on $815,000 bond.
The arrest concluded a massive search across Yolo County by a task force including the Yolo County Sheriff’s Ag Theft Task Force, Woodland Police, Davis Police, the Yolo Narcotics Enforcement Team and the California Highway Patrol. Late 2013 saw more than a hundred Woodland residences burglarized. Authorities believe Lopez was involved in them all. Six other arrests were made early this year of the other suspects involved in the burglaries. Marc Lasonde, Kimberly Lalley, Jose Garcia, Blanca Hernandez, Elia Garcia and Salvador Villa were arrested January 23 in connection with Lopez and the burglary ring.
Facebook friends Mario Lopez and the previously arrested Elia Garcia (Facebook)
The burglars hit more than 60 Woodland homes in January alone said Woodland Police Sgt. Brett Hancock. “It’s the same group of people,” explained Hancock. “There’s more people involved than what we knew initially. We are definitely working on it.” Early this month, Hancock identified Lopez as a ring leader in the burglaries and warned the public he was still at large. “We’d like him to turn himself in,” said Hancock.
Lopez had in fact turned himself in — twice. The first time was on January 25 at the Woodland Police Department. He was booked into Yolo County Jail on suspicion of several felonies including burglary. Released on bail, Lopez disappeared for a week. But then, two weeks ago, Lopez showed up at the Yolo County Jail’s front window and identified himself. He was asked to wait. After 14 minutes, Lopez got tired of waiting and disappeared again, that is until early Thursday morning.
A car in which Lopez was a passenger got stopped in Madison, a rural Yolo County town, for vehicle code violations just after midnight. Deputies immediately recognized Lopez in the car and made the arrest.
Read More:
CrimeVoice: Yolo County Sheriff Arrests Wanted Suspect
CrimeVoice: Woodland PD Arrests 7 Suspects for Burglary Spree
Daily Democrat: Woodland’s ‘most wanted’ burglary suspect caught in Madison
