Pedestrian stopped for creating a traffic hazard leads to discovery of a large amount of stolen property, narcotics for sale, and personal information belonging to identity theft victims

On Monday, 08/28/23 at approximately 7:40 am, an officer noticed a pedestrian crossing Guerneville Road near Steele Lane without the right-of-way and during heavy commute traffic. The pedestrian was causing a significant traffic hazard, forcing vehicles to maneuver around him. The officer contacted Billy Scott, a 36-year-old transient from Santa Rosa, and learned Scott was on pre-trial release for his suspected involvement in the 06/03/23 burglary of a tool shed at Roseland University Prep. 
 
Per the terms of Scott’s release, he was subject to warrantless search of his person, property, and residence. The officer searched Scott and located over $8,000 cash, approximately 1-ounce of methamphetamine, and personal identifying information for two victims of identity theft. Some of the victims’ information included mail, credit cards, identification cards, and social security numbers. Scott was also in possession of a laptop and camera tripod. The officer investigated the origin of the suspected stolen property and responded to a business complex located in the 3000-block of Cleveland Avenue, where he discovered numerous business suites had been recently burglarized. 
 
Officers and detectives with the SRPD Property Crimes Investigations Team responded to a local motel where Scott had said he was currently residing. Scott provided detectives with a false room number; however, they were able to locate the friend Scott said he was staying with at the motel. Kendra Smith, a 43-year-old transient from Santa Rosa, provided detectives with the correct room number in which she and Scott were staying, and consented to a search of the room. Inside of the room, detectives located an additional 3-ounces of methamphetamine and property believed to have been stolen from the business complex on Cleveland Avenue.
 
Scott was arrested and booked into county jail for possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, possession of stolen property, identity theft, burglary, and violation of pre-trial supervision. Smith was not arrested at that time due to a lack of evidence linking her to Scott’s suspected crimes. Once Scott was booked into jail, detectives continued their investigation to determine if any additional crimes were committed by Scott. During the extensive investigation, a field evidence technician noticed similarities between this burglary and another commercial burglary committed on 08/24/23 in the 2500-block of Cleveland Avenue. Detectives reviewed video evidence from that burglary and positively identified Scott as the lone suspect. Scott was subsequently charged with an additional count of burglary.
 
Detectives continued their investigation and based on a review of all the evidence in these cases, they believed Smith was an active participant in the storage of the stolen property and not the unwitting roommate she claimed to be. On 08/30/23, officers located Smith at the same local motel, and she was arrested and booked in county jail for possession of stolen property. 
 
Billy Scott was arrested and booked into jail for the following offenses:
 
11378 HS - Possession of narcotics with the intent to sell, felony (2 counts)
459 PC - Burglary, felony (3 counts) 
496(a) PC - Possession of stolen property, felony (3 counts)
594(a)(2) PC - Vandalism, felony (1 count)
530.5(c)(1) PC - Identity theft, misdemeanor (3 counts)
 
Kendra Smith was arrested and booked into jail for the following offense:
 
496(a) PC - Possession of stolen property, felony (1 count)
 
These arrests would not be possible if not for the attention to detail and incredible teamwork of our patrol officers, field evidence technicians and detectives, as well as the cooperation and quick responses from the victims of these burglaries. 

SRPD case numbers 23-10783, 23-10810, 23-10811, and 23-10904.

Media Contact:
Sgt. Patricia Seffens
707-974-0161
pseffens@srcity.org