Quick and decisive action by an alert midnight shift patrol officer led to the arrest of two burglars accused of breaking into Circle D Liquors in the early morning hours on Thursday, Jan. 9.
Shortly after midnight, Oakdale Police Officer Aaron Beatty was driving on East F Street when he was alerted to the sound of breaking glass in the area. Beatty observed two figures running from the area of Circle D Liquors and alerted other police units to respond for assistance.
When Beatty pulled into the store parking lot, he observed a broken window and a hole cut in the fence bordering the Oakdale Irrigation District offices. Beatty gave chase to the fleeing subjects on foot as other units attempted to set up a perimeter around the area to contain the suspects.
Beatty located a subject, later identified as David Ruffin, 39, of Stockton, hiding in bushes in the 1200 block of East G Street, and detained him for the incident.
Officers checked the path of flight by Ruffin and located a total of 71 cartons of cigarettes and a strip of lottery scratch-off tickets in the vicinity. Officers also discovered that a large rock was used to break the store’s window.
After the owner of Circle D Liquors responded, officers reviewed a security tape which showed Ruffin in the act of breaking the window and taking the items. The footage also showed an unknown female subject with him.
During the time of Ruffin’s detention, and while reviewing the security video, Ruffin’s cell phone rang, showing a call coming from the ARCO AM-PM mini mart on East F Street.
Officers responded to the market and learned from the clerk that an unknown black female who appeared frenzied had used the phone but had left and was believed to be in the nearby Denny’s restaurant.
Police found Rose Marie Johnson, 22, also of Stockton, inside Denny’s matching the description provided by the clerk and also matching the description of the female on the security tape.
According to police, when Johnson was contacted, she confessed to the incident and being with Ruffin when the burglary occurred.
Johnson and Ruffin were booked at Stanislaus County Jail for burglary, conspiracy, and resisting arrest charges.
