On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 2:13 a.m., Riverside police officers were dispatched to an audible burglar alarm in the area of the 300 block of Shenstone Road in Riverside. When officers arrived, they discovered that the alarm was coming from a garage. One of the officers saw a male Hispanic wearing all black riding a bicycle at a high rate of speed from the garage. The officer attempted to stop the suspect on the bike but he was unsuccessful. The officer then attempted to cut the bicyclist off with his squad car and the offender then jumped off his bicycle and ran. A short foot pursuit took place and Riverside officers were able to catch the offender in the 400 block of Shenstone Road close to Harlem Avenue.
During the foot pursuit, Riverside Police continued to receive 911 phone calls stating that there was somebody running in backyards adjacent to the burglary scene. This was the same subject that Riverside Police were involved with in the foot pursuit. Riverside police officers were assisted at the scene by North Riverside police officers in a foot search for additional suspects and property.
Riverside Police conducted a show-up at the scene and the victim of the garage burglary was able to positively identify the suspect, now identified as “Christian” (refused give last name), as the individual who was in his garage committing the burglary. During the investigation, it was learned that the 2005 Volvo parked inside the garage that had been burglarized was damaged as well.
The offender was transported to Riverside Police Department for further investigation after booking.
The bike that the offender was riding, a Trek 800 was not his. Riverside Police believe this bike was stolen but have been unable to locate a victim at this time. Ongoing investigations of other thefts and burglaries are continuing.
Police recovered from the offender an iPhone, black Prada sunglasses, two sets of keys which did not belong to him, and other electronic devices and credit cards stolen from the vehicle that was broken into on the 300 block of Shenstone. Police also recovered $38.00 in cash and change taken from the vehicle.
While in police custody, the offender refused to cooperate with police in every manner including not giving his name or any other identification. A fingerprint check revealed the true identity of the offender.
Riverside Police arrested Christian A. Benavides-Acevedo, 18 of the 900 block of 24th Avenue in Melrose Park. Mr. Benavides-Acevedo was charged with one felony count of burglary, one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass to vehicle and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to vehicle. His criminal history was extensive and included arrests for burglary, theft, robbery, unlawful use of weapon, battery, aggravated battery and drugs. Mr. Benavides-Acevedo had 14 arrests and h is only 18 year old.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, “My officers on residential patrol that night were able to engage the offender within 1 minute and 7 seconds of the original call. When the call of the burglary was dispatched, there was a Riverside police officer one block from the scene. Upon arriving on the scene, he immediately took up foot pursuit of the offender. We also had help from our residents who called 911 quickly and assisted us. Also, the victim was able to quickly identify the offender in custody along with his property. This arrest would not have been possible without the direct assistance of the victim and area residents – for which I am thankful.”
The public is reminded that a signed complaint is not evidence of guilt and that all defendants
in a criminal case are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.