Adult Gang Member Robs Juvenile In Mecca, Gets Arrested In Stolen Car
Written by Trevor Montgomery
Mecca, Calif.; On Thursday a 27-year-old Los Angeles area gang member threatened to shoot a 17-year -old student and stole the juvenile’s school-issued iPad as well as other property.
On October 22, 2015, at approximately 6:00 a.m., deputies from the Sheriff’s Thermal Station responded to the area of National Avenue and Johnson Street, regarding the report of a strong-armed robbery.
The deputies’ investigation revealed a victim, a 17-year-old student of Desert Mirage High School, was robbed of his school-issued iPad while walking to the bus stop before school. The suspect, later identified as Jose Luis Frausto, a 27-year-old Los Angeles area gang member, threatened to shoot the student during the robbery.
Several day later, on October 29, 2015, at approximately 5:00 p.m., a Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District deputy spotted Frausto driving in the 91000 block of 5th Street, Mecca. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on Frausto and took him into custody without incident.
Jose Luis Frausto, 27 of Los Angeles, arrested for robbery of a juvenile and possession of a stolen vehicle.
A records check on the vehicle Frausto had been driving was reported stolen from the city of El Monte. Although the victim’s iPad was not located inside the stolen vehicle the suspect had been driving, other property belonging to the juvenile victim was recovered from inside the suspect’s vehicle.
Deputies later served a search warrant in the 92000 block of National Ave, Mecca looking for the victim’s missing iPad; however the iPad was not recovered. Frausto was booked into the Riverside County jail in Indio for strong-armed robbery and vehicle theft.
Sergeant Tim White asked that anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Deputy James Knudson of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Services District Team at (760) 863-8990, or Valley Crime Stoppers at (760) 341-STOP (7867). Callers can refer to incident file number: C152950005. Callers can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.
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