CORONA: Brothers arrested after commercial burglaries, vehicle pursuit

CORONA – Corona police officers arrested two brothers after they allegedly burglarized two restaurants before leading officers on an early-morning high-speed pursuit Wednesday, Dec. 28. The first burglary happened at Chronic Taco at 160 E. Ontario Avenue in Corona. The second burglary happened at Graziano’s Pizza at 333 Magnolia Avenue in Corona.

After the burglaries and pursuit officers arrested Rodney Shorter II, 21, and Rodney Shorter III, 19, of Long Beach. A third suspect involved in the burglaries was not located and is still being sought by police officers.

Rodney Shorter II was arrested after he allegedly committed two burglaries and was involved in a police pursuit.

Rodney Shorter III was arrested after he allegedly committed two burglaries and was involved in a police pursuit.

The two brothers were booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center on numerous charges including conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of concealed firearm, recklessly evading police, two counts of burglary, two counts of possession of stolen property, and other charges related to the two burglaries and pursuit.

The incident and investigation began when the Corona Police Department received a 911 call reporting an in-progress commercial burglary about 3:45 a.m. The caller advised that three suspects were burglarizing the business.

Officers responded to the area while City of Corona dispatchers relayed information from the 911 caller.

The three suspects fled from the location in a white Dodge Intrepid before officers arrived at the location.

As officers converged on the area, they located the suspect vehicle and attempted to conduct an investigatory traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield and accelerated away from the officers, at which time officers initiated a vehicle pursuit.

During the pursuit the suspects drove in an extremely reckless manner, without regard for other citizens or the pursuing officers.

The pursuit continued to the 1600 block of Leeson Lane in Corona where the suspect vehicle drove over a curb, flattening the car’s tires.

After their vehicle became disabled, the three suspects fled from the vehicle on foot in an attempt to evade the pursuing officers.

The officers apprehended two of the three male suspects, who were later identified as brothers Rodney Shorter II and Rodney Shorter III.

During a subsequent investigation, officers learned the three suspects had burglarized Graziano’s Pizza, removing a safe and cash register drawers from the business. Officers also determined the three suspects had committed another earlier commercial burglary at Chronic Taco.

Officers recovered the safe taken from Graziano’s Pizza from inside the suspect’s vehicle. Officers also located burglary tools, two cloth masks, and a firearm that had been reported stolen out of Los Angeles County.

A jail records search revealed the two brothers were being held in lieu of $120,000 bail and were scheduled to be arraigned at the Riverside Hall of Justice Dec. 30.

The investigation is active and ongoing and Corona police officials are still working to identify and locate the third suspect involved in the burglaries.

Anyone with information regarding the third suspect, these crimes, or any additional crimes possibly involving these suspects are encouraged to call Sr. Detective Robert Gonzalez at (951) 279-3637 or by email. Callers can remain anonymous.

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.