San Jose police arrested 3 men and 1 juvenile male in connection to a string of home invasions on May 31 and June 7.
Armando Manzano, 19, Daniel Mendez, 19, Eduardo Santiago, 23, and a 17-year-old boy were arrested in home invasions that took place in East and South San Jose.
On May 31, at about 3:50 p.m., police responded to a home invasion in the 600 block of North Capitol Avenue. Police said 5 to 6 suspects bound an elderly couple with belts, wielded a handgun, assaulted the victims, and stole their valuables.
The suspects used a stolen vehicle and committed their second home invasion in the 1000 block of Summerdale Drive. They held a male victim and his 15-month-old child at gunpoint. They threatened to shoot and kidnap the child and forced the father to go to his bank and withdraw money. The suspects also stole valuables from the house.
A dash camera captured the suspects running away from the scene.
On June 7, at about 12:20 p.m., authorities responded to a home invasion in the 4000 block of Bolero Drive in South San Jose. Two suspects held an elderly couple at gunpoint, assaulted them, and tried to steal their valuables.
Police officers captured 2 suspects, identified as Manzano and Mendez. They are booked into Santa Clara County jail on felony robbery charges.
Detectives identified 2 more suspects, Santiago, and the juvenile. The two were arrested at their homes and recovered some of the stolen items.
Manzano, Mendez, and Santiago remain in custody and are believed to be linked in other cases of burglaries and violent crimes.
According to the police, Manzano was previously arrested on June 5 for an unrelated charge of evading police. He was released from jail the next day and committed one of the home invasions the following day.
“There needs to be more accountability,” San Jose Police Sgt. Christian Camarillo said. “The system right now is failing the community members.”
Anyone with information about the crimes or the suspects should contact Detective VanBrande via email at 4542@sanjoseca.gov or call 408-277-4166. Tips may be anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org.
