On 10/21/13 at about 6:20pm, Hemet Police dispatch received a call of a stolen vehicle which had just occurred from a parking lot in the 2500 block of W. Florida Avenue. When Officer Art Paez arrived on scene, it was determined the elderly victim picked up a male and female from a local business after the couple's vehicle had supposedly broken down.
The victim drove, with the couple in his car, to a near-by store. He left both subjects in his vehicle with the keys in the ignition. When the victim was inside the store, the suspects drove off in the victim's vehicle without his permission.
At about 9:06pm, HPD Officer Matt Gomez located the suspect's "broken down" vehicle on Buena Vista at Central. Steven Bemet was arrested there, but the other suspects were not in the area.
At about 11:30pm, HPD Sergeant Bob Nishida was in the 500 block of W. Stetson Avenue, when he observed the elderly victim's vehicle. Sergeant Nishida and other HPD officers conducted a high-risk traffic stop near-by. The driver, Jonathan Homedew, and two passengers, Christopher Rutledge and Aldea McNair, were arrested without incident.
Captain Rob Webb said, "Our officers worked diligently as a team to recover this vehicle for the elderly victim, and successfully removed four criminals from Hemet in the process."
Arrested:
Steven Bemet- 35 year old of Hemet was arrested for Vehicle Theft and Possession of Methamphetamine.
Jonathan Homedew- 40 year old of Hemet was arrest for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Probation Violation, and 11 separate counts of committing a felony with a prison prior.
Aldea McNair- 25 year old of Hemet was arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine for Sales.
Christopher Rutledge- 36 year old of Hemet was arrested for an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest.