LA QUINTA: Indio men arrested after allegedly burglarizing homes while victims slept

LA QUINTA — Sheriff’s officials have made two arrests and closed at least three residential burglary investigations that involved suspects who officials allege broke into victims’ homes at night while they slept and stole personal items from their residences.

The burglaries happened in La Quinta, between Nov. 12. and Nov. 16, Riverside Sheriff’s Sergeant David Smith explained after the arrests.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s La Quinta Police Station began investigating the incidents after responding to a series of burglaries that took place at the Citrus Country Club in the 50-500 Block of Mandrina in La Quinta.

“Because of the serious nature of these burglaries, the La Quinta Special Enforcement Team immediately assumed the investigations,” said Smith.

During their subsequent investigation, SET members developed leads and gathered information regarding two suspects, who were later identified as Brandon Joseph Seacrist, 26 and Ricardo Alejo Bernal, 31. Both men are Indio residents.

As the investigation continued, on Nov. 26, SET members located Seacrist in the area of Jefferson Street and Avenue 44.

About three weeks later, on Dec. 16, SET members located and arrested Bernal in the area of Avenue 48 and Grapefruit Boulevard.

Deputies arrested both men and they were later booked into Indio Jail, according to Smith.

An online jail records search revealed Seacrist was booked on suspicion of three counts of first degree residential burglary, conspiracy to commit a felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, providing false information to a peace officer, possession of burglary tools and two counts of trespassing.

Bernal was booked into Indio Jail on suspicion of criminal conspiracy and first-degree residential burglary.

Both men remain in custody, Seacrist held on $55,000 bail and Bernal held on $105,000 bail.

Bernal is scheduled to be arraigned at the Indio Larson Justice Center Jan. 9 and Seacrist’s next scheduled court date is set for Dec 20 at the same court.

Anyone with further information about this investigation is encouraged to contact Sheriff’s officials at (760) 863-8990. Callers can refer to incident file numbers LA173160010, LA173180021 and LA173200011 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle and Anza Valley Outlook as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.

Trevor 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident.

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.