BENTONVILLE -- A Rogers man appeared in court Monday for one case, then left in handcuffs in connection with the theft of a car near the courthouse earlier in the day.
Jesus Valenzuela-Cruz, 41, was booked at 6:40 p.m. Monday into the Benton County Jail in connection with theft of property.
Valenzuela-Cruz was set to appear Monday before Circuit Judge Robin Green, according to court documents. He was arrested Feb. 7 in connection with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia.
The judge ended proceedings for lunch, and Valenzuela-Cruz's case hadn't been called.
Sasha Richards called Bentonville police at 12:07 p.m. to report her car had been stolen from the parking lot of the Benton County Administration building, according to court documents. Richards told police she went out to her car after court and her Pontiac was missing. She told police she left her keys, purse and cell phone in her car, according to court documents.
Ben Peters, a Bentonville police officer, went with Richards to the Benton County Courthouse in order to view surveillance video. The video showed Richards' vehicle parked next to a Chrysler PT Cruiser. Two people approached her car, and one of them got into the car, a probable cause affidavit states. Both Richard's vehicle and the PT Cruiser left the parking lot, according to court documents.
Richards said she didn't know the two people in the video. Richards went into Green's court, but soon returned and told Peters and sheriff's deputies the man who stole her car was in court.
Valenzuela-Cruz was taken into custody in the courtroom. He admitted to police he stole the car, according to the affidavit. According to court documents, Valenzuela-Cruz showed police where he abandoned Richards' vehicle on Nomad Road in Bentonville.
Valenzuela-Cruz didn't appear before the judge on the drug charge. He was being held Wednesday in the county jail with no bond set.
NW News on 06/04/2015