Josepha Littlewolf Basurto from her MCSO booking log photo.
MENDOCINO Co., Dec. 13, 2016 — The following information is from a December 12 press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The Mendocino Voice has not independently confirmed the information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
At the time of the press release, suspect David Lee Joaquin had not been located and is still at large. “Persons aware of whereabouts are asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff‘s Office at 459-7833 or 1-800-523-6663.”
On December 11 at 7:30am, MCSO deputies were called to a possible burglary in progress occurring at the 23000 block of Grange Street in Covelo. A Fish and Wildlife officer was also in the vicinity and responded to the call. Upon arriving, the officer heard a male and female voice inside the shed outside the residence. When the officer went to speak with the property owner at the residence and then walked back outside, he discovered the sliding glass door had been sprayed with fire extinguisher retardant so the resident could not see outside.
As the officer approached the shed, he could see a male and female running in the direction of High School Street. The officer caught up with the female and saw she was holding a fire extinguisher. When asked to relinquish it, she refused and instead sprayed the officer with fire retardant from the extinguisher. The officer then deployed a taser on the suspect, 21 year old Josepha Basurto. Basurto is currently being held on $30,000 bail on charges of burglary, resisting or obstructing arrest, possession of stolen property and assault with a deadly weapon.
Deputies are still seeking the male suspect, 22 year old David Lee Joaquin of Covelo. The full press release can be read below:
Incident Number: 2016-37969
Crime/Incident: Burglary / Resisting arrest / Assault with a deadly weapon / Possession of stolen property and Vandalism
Location: 23000 block of Grange Street, Covelo Ca
Date of Incident: 12-11-2016
Time: 7:30 a.m.
Victim(s): S-1 David Lee Joaquin 22 years of age Covelo
S-2 Josehpa Basurto 21 years of age CoveloSuspect(s): S-1 David Lee Joaquin 22 years of age Covelo
S-2 Josepha Basurto 21 years of age CoveloWritten By: Lt. Kirk R Mason
Synopsis: On 12-11-2016, at about 7:30 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to the 23000 block of Grange Street, in Covelo, regarding a possible burglary in progress. Just as Deputies were dispatched to the call, a Peace Officer from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, reported that he was very near the residence.
Upon arrival of the Peace Officer, from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, he contacted the victim who directed him to the rear of the residence. While there he could hear a male and female voice inside a storage shed located behind the residence. The Officer went back inside the residence to speak to the property owner. When the Peace Officer started to walk back outside, he noted that unknown persons had sprayed the sliding glass door with fire retardant from a fire extinguisher, thus preventing persons from inside the house from seeing outside.
The Peace Officer then walked out the front door of the residence at which time he saw a male and female subject running from the backyard, towards the direction of High School Street. The Fish and Wildlife Peace Officer caught up with the male suspect (who he later identified as S-1 David Joaquin) at which time he ordered him to stop, but S-1 Joaquin continued to run. The Fish and Wildlife Officer then caught up with the female suspect at which time he noted that she was holding a fire extinguisher. When he ordered the female to drop the fire extinguisher she refused, and spraying the Fish and Wildlife Peace Officer in the face with the flame retardant contained within. The Fish and Wildlife Peace Officer then deployed his Department issued Taser.
The female suspect, who was later identified as S-2 Josepha Basurto, was then taken into custody following an examination by on scene emergency response personnel.
S-2 Basurto was subsequently arrested for burglary, resisting or obstructing arrest, possession of stolen property and assault with a deadly weapon. She was transported to the Mendocino County jail where she is currently being held on $30,000 bail.
At the time of this press release S-1 David Joaquin is still at large. Persons aware of whereabouts are asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff‘s Office at 459-7833 or 1-800-523-6663.
Approved by: Lt. Kirk R Mason
