By G. T. Houts
Lake Arrowhead, CA – A series of car break-ins in the Lake Arrowhead area led to the arrest of two men — Scott Douglas McDuffie, 32, from Blue Jay and Dylan Ross Fuzzell from Fullerton.
THE INCIDENTS
The Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station reports that the night of April 11, an unidentified man heard a noise outside his home and went outside to try and determine where the nopise was coming from.
The man told deputies he observed two suspects attempting to steal tires off of his vehicle. The victim recognized one of the suspects to be McDuffie and told them both to leave the property.
The victim was able to clearly describe both suspects and the vehicle they were in to deputies.
On the same evening, according to a Twin Peaks news release, the second victim heard a noise outside her home and went to investigate, she observed that her vehicle had been entered without her permission and items were missing but didn’t see who had done it.
SUSPECT VEHICLE SPOTTED
In the early morning hours, a deputy on patrol spotted the suspect vehicle.
The media advisory indicated that the deputy approached the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Fuzzell and found he had wrapped his fingers with electrical tape.
The deputy found paperwork and items not belonging to Fuzzell in the vehicle.
The second victim came to the scene and was able to positively identify her belongings which were stolen earlier that night. A deputy escorted the victim back to her residence.
ANOTHER INCIDENT
While returning to the suspect vehicle the deputy spotted the second suspect, later identified as McDuffie, burglarizing another vehicle.
McDuffie’s fingers were also wrapped in electrical tape and he was found to be in possession of additional items that did not belong to him.
THE ARRESTS
Fuzzell was charged with PC496, Receiving Stolen Property and PC 530.5(c).(1), Identity Theft. He was booked at the West Valley Detention Center (WVDC) in Rancho Cucamonga and posted bail and was released at 10:49 p.m. on April 14.
McDuffie was charged with PC496, Receiving Stolen Property, and remains in custody at WVDC. His first court appearance is scheduled for April 21 at 8:30 a.m. in Department S-17. His bail is $100,000.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
McDuffie and Fuzzell appeared to be targeting unlocked vehicles. The Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station reminds mountain residents to remove valuables and lock vehicles.
“Always report vehicle break-ins in a timely manner so that we can identify you as a possible victim should an arrest be made,” the press release stated.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Twin Peaks Station at (909) 336-0500 or We-TIP at (800) 472-7766.
(829)