Police Arrest Gilroy Parolee on Suspicion of Stealing Movies

Cops say suspect and companion had drugs and were under the
influence
Morgan Hill – A petty theft at the Blockbuster on East Dunne Avenue turned into multiple charges and a trip to the Santa Clara County Jail for a Gilroy man and a Salinas woman.

Lennie Carrillo, 46, who is on parole for theft with a prior conviction, was booked into county jail on suspicion of burglary, theft with a prior conviction, possession of burglary tools, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, alleged possession of drug paraphernalia and parole violation, according to Morgan Hill police Sgt. David Swing.

Vanessa Mondragon, 33, was also booked into county jail. She was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, giving false ID to police and resisting arrest.

The incident began about 2:10pm when a Blockbuster employee told police dispatchers the suspects had stolen movies and were near the Burger King located in the center at the corner of East Dunne Avenue and Walnut Grove Drive.

“When officer Steve Pennington contacted them, Ms. Mondragon became angry and was not cooperative,” Swing said. 

While talking to them, Pennington saw a type of pipe normally used for smoking methamphetamine, in the car near Carrillo, Swing said. When Carrillo stepped out of the car, Pennington found he had wire cutters and a small boxcutter knife on him. Searching the seat Carrillo vacated, Pennington found the pipe, and Carrillo was arrested.

Morgan Hill police officer Bill Norman searched the car and found another glass pipe wrapped in tissue, clear plastic baggies containing what appeared to be crystal meth, and several movies. When Norman was arresting Mondragon on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, she tried to pull away, yelling and screaming. Once she was handcuffed, Swing said, she had to be forced into the back of the patrol car. 

Inside the car, officers also found a replica handgun and photocopies of two drivers’ licenses.