Fresno HEAT

Another good day for the HEAT team!

On Wednesday April 7, 2021, members of the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) were in the area of Marks Avenue and Clinton Avenue. While in the area, a motorcycle matching the description of a stolen motorcycle was seen parked in the parking lot of an auto repair store. The driver of the motorcycle, later identified as Andrew Condee, 27 of Fresno, was sitting on the motorcycle. As HEAT Investigators approached Condee to make contact he fled on foot running across busy traffic and jumping several fences. Condee was eventually caught and taken into custody.

A wants and warrants check of Condee revealed he had an active felony warrant out of Fresno for murder. Fresno PD was contacted and Condee was arrested and booked into the Fresno county jail for murder. GREAT JOB HEAT TEAM!

Another good day for the HEAT team!

On Monday July 6, 2020, members of the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) located a stolen gray Ford Fusion travelling in the area of Ashlan Ave. and Palm Ave. in Fresno.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Pablo Garcia, 20 of Fresno, drove the vehicle for several miles. HEAT Investigators followed Garcia to the area of Huntington Ave. and Recreation Ave. at which time he parked the vehicle in front of a residence and exited the driver side door. Garcia was contacted and taken into custody.

At the time of Garcia's arrest he was found to have three active felony warrants. He had been arrested several times in the last few months and released each time due to the Emergency Bail Rule. Garcia was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, and violation of probation.

On June 3, 2020, members of the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) developed information regarding a chop shop ran by Hector Gongora, 43 of Fresno, near Garland Ave. and Ninth St. in Fresno. With the assistance of the Fresno MAGEC team, HEAT members executed a search warrant of the residence. Gongora was stopped and detained as he left the residence. The search revealed a stolen dismantled 1990 Chevrolet truck in the garage along with ammunition. Gongora was out on bond from an arrest on May 22, 2020 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Gongora was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, and operation of a chop shop. He was booked but released after 4 hours due to the Emergency Bail Rule.

On April 22, 2020, members of the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task force (HEAT) were in the area of Clovis Ave. And Kings Canyon Ave. when a known auto thief, Steve Vang, 35 of Fresno, was observed standing outside the driver door of a white Honda Civic physically assaulting a juvenile victim. Vang was contacted and placed under arrest. Vang admitted he had been driving the Honda. A records check of the Honda’s VIN number confirmed it was stolen out of Clovis.

Vang was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, domestic violence, and child abuse.

On April 17, 2020, members of the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) were in the area of Floradora Ave. and Marks Ave. recovering a stolen 2010 Ford Crown Victoria when the suspect, later identified as Randy Kiehl, 37 of Fresno, approached them. When confronted, Kiehl fled the scene while grabbing hold of a handgun which he had tucked in his pants. Kiehl dropped the firearm while running and was apprehended by HEAT Investigators. The firearm was confirmed to be stolen.

Kiehl was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and possession of a firearm.

On April 14, 2020, the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) assisted the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Detectives with locating and arresting suspects in a residential burglary. The suspects were believed to be at a residence in the area of Shaw Ave and Marks Ave. in Fresno. The suspects were gone from the residence at the time however, a search warrant of the premise revealed two stolen trailers and property from no less than 10 residential or commercial burglaries from multiple jurisdictions. The combined value of the stolen property recovered was estimated at $100,000.

On April 15, 2020, suspects Kristopher Cartozian, 36 of Fresno and Robert Ortiz, 32 of Fresno were arrested by the HEAT team. Later that night, Jacob Lopez, 35 of Fresno was found hiding in the attic of the residence near Marks Ave and Shaw Ave. All subjects were booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, residential burglary and looting.

It's been a busy start to the new year for the HEAT team.

On January 7, 2020, the Fresno Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) located a stolen gray Honda Civic traveling in the area of Andrews Ave. and Weber Ave. in Fresno. HEAT Investigators began to follow the stolen vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, later identified as Fernando Garza, 27 of Fresno, drove the vehicle for several miles. Garza was followed to the area of Ashlan Ave and Parkway. As Investigators attempted to make contact, Garza fled the scene on foot. Garza was apprehended by HEAT Investigators and was arrested and booked into the Fresno County Jail for felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, evading a peace officer and a prior felony warrant for auto theft.

It was a very productive Friday for the HEAT Team!

A string of commercial burglaries and related vehicle thefts occurred in the Fresno and Clovis areas beginning in May 2019 to August 2019. The Help Eliminate Auto Theft Task Force (HEAT) members identified the suspect as Allen Helseth, 35 of Fresno. Multiple felony warrants were issued for Helseth.

On August 1, 2019, with the assistance from the Joint Fugitive Task Force, the HEAT team located Helseth leaving a residence in the area of Fresno St. and Bullard Ave. HEAT Investigators, along with Fugitive Task Force members, began surveillance. Helseth entered a vehicle and left the residence. He was followed for several miles as he drove through northeast Fresno. When Helseth became aware he was being followed by law enforcement, he stopped the vehicle in the area of Los Altos Ave. and Chestnut Ave., exited the vehicle and ran. Helseth ran into several yards and jumped fences in an attempt to avoid arrest but was apprehended in the backyard of a residence.

Helseth was booked into the Fresno County Jail for carjacking, felony auto theft, receiving stolen property, burglary and several felony warrants.