Here’s your latest digest of criminal happenings in Gilroy, including an arrest of four alleged burglars, a domestic violence and a child abuse arrest and the booking of a man with three outstanding warrants who was found “passed out” in a bathroom.
Four alleged burglars taken off the streets after victim calls police
According to police reports, a victim of an auto burglary near the intersection of First and Monterey streets called police at 5:19 p.m. Feb. 9 after he saw two suspects breaking into his vehicle. The burglars used “shaved keys,” which are car keys that have been shaved or ground down to fit into a vehicle’s ignition, GPD Sgt. Pedro Espinoza said.
Two suspects entered the victim’s car and took a wallet. After police responded, they arrested four suspects: 27-year-old Larry Palomino; 28-year-old Jesus Ortiz; 21-year-old Eileen Espinoza and 22-year-old Yuliana Elizondo on felony burglary charges.
Police recovered two “shaved keys,” a firearm and the victim’s wallet and transported all four suspects to Santa Clara County Jail.
Domestic violence call leads to arrest of a convicted felon
On Feb. 7 at 10:47 p.m., Gilroy police responded to a domestic violence call on the 9000 block of Kern Avenue. According to police reports, 43-year-old John Graffigna and his wife got into an argument at their home. Graffigna allegedly struck his wife in the mouth and knocked the phone out of her mouth when she attempted to dial 9-1-1 on her cell phone, the police report reads. Graffigna also attempted to prevent his wife from leaving the house, police allege.
When GPD officers confronted Graffigna, a convicted felon, he failed to obey commands and was tazed by officers, the document reads. GPD also found two shotguns in the home, which is illegal for felons have access to or possess.
Graffigna was arrested on various charges, including felony possession of a firearm as a felon, battery, false imprisonment, resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer and obstructing the use of a wireless communications device with the intent to prevent someone from calling 9-1-1. He was transported to Santa Clara County Jail and his bail is set at $31,000, according to the police report.
Child abuse suspect allegedly harms child, threatens mother
On Feb. 9 at 1 a.m., GPD responded to the 7700 block of Ghirlanda Court to follow up on a call about a mother covering the mouth and nose of her daughter. Appolonia Salinas, 24 of Gilroy, was arrested for two felony charges: willfully causing or permitting a child to suffer and making threats to commit a crime resulting in injuries.
“After the arrestee was being transported to jail, (Salinas) threatened to kill her mother,” the police report states.
Salinas was booked at the Santa Clara County Jail and her bail is set at $50,000.
Passed out in the Marshall’s bathroom
On Feb. 10 at 8:49 p.m., GPD responded to a call from a Marshall’s employee about a man passed out in the men’s restroom, according to police reports. Michael Mortimer, 22 of Aptos, was arrested for three outstanding warrants: two for resting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer and being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or a controlled substance, in addition to another charge of resisting, delaying or obstructing a peace officer and representing a false ID to a police officer.
