Pursuit of stolen vehicle results in the recovery of stolen property from an unreported burglary in the county area.
On 04/22/13, just after midnight, Hemet Police Sergeant Bob Nishida observed a white GMC Sierra truck exiting a gas station located in the 3300 block of W. Florida Avenue. Earlier, Sergeant Nishida was provided information from Officer Dean Benjamin of a previously stolen white GMC Sierra. Officer Benjamin, while working another stolen vehicle investigation the day prior, learned the suspect(s) affixed fake license plates to a stolen white GMC pick-up in hopes of throwing off the police.
Sergeant Nishida attempted to stop the GMC pickup for an equipment violation but the driver took off. The vehicle accelerated W/B on Florida Avenue as back-up officers arrived. The driver led officers on a high-speed chase to the area of Four Seasons Blvd. The vehicle suddenly stopped east of Winchester Road. The driver, Alan Watne, and the passenger, Ashlee Temple, were taken into custody.
The white GMC Sierra had been reported stolen to the San Jacinto Police Department on 04/16/13. Officers contacted the vehicle owner who responded to the scene and recovered his truck.
During a search of the stolen vehicle, several items were found that are suspected of being stolen property. Temple was also found in possession of two stolen credit cards.
Sergeant Nishida learned these two suspects were staying at a local motel. Officers responded to the motel and conducted a probation search. In the motel parking lot, yet another stolen vehicle was recovered. Inside the room, officers located several items of stolen property belonging to a recently deceased couple. It appears the suspects had burglarized the deceased couple's former home in the County area of Hemet. Family members of the couple had not yet discovered the burglary.
Hemet Police officers, with the assistance of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, contacted the couple's family who ID'ed the property as that of the recently deceased couple. Not only is this family dealing with the loss of loved ones, but now they are forced to deal with this.
Watne is currently on probation out of Riverside County Superior Court for vehicle theft and was on Post-Release Community Supervision per AB109 from a prior Riverside County burglary case.
ARRESTED:
Alan Lee Watne - 26 years of Hemet.
Charges:
Possession of Stolen Vehicle, Felony Evading, Violation of Probation, Possession of Stolen Property, and a Post-Release Community Supervision "Flash Incarceration" was requested.
Ashlee Louise Temple - 19 years of Hemet.
Charges:
Possession of Stolen Property.