By Jondi Gumz
Detectives say they have solved the case of the wallet stolen from a Cal Fire firefighter, Santa Cruz County Sheriff Jim Hart said at a 3 p.m. press conference Thursday at the Cal Fire base camp, announcing the Wednesday night arrest of Brian Johnson, 37, of Live Oak, on multiple felony charges.
Brian Johnson
The sheriff was clearly pleased to crack the case in two-and-half days.
“A confession in 48 hours — really good police work,” he said.
He had voiced outrage at the theft of the wallet from a visiting firefighter who had come to this county to fight the CZU Lightning Complex fire, which forced evacuation of 77,000 residents, grew to 81,333 acres and is 21 percent contained after 11 days.
Hart said Johnson, who is on probation from another county, faces charges of grand theft, credit card theft, possession of stolen property, forgery and probation violation.
Detective Daniel Robbins, named the Sheriff’s Office employee of the year for 2017, was assigned to the case.
His team got information from a community member that led them to Johnson.
Sheriff Jim Hart reports on an arrest of a suspect in the theft of a Cal Fire firefighter’s wallet. • Photo Credit: Jondi Gumz
At Johnson’s house, Hart said officers found the clothing in the store video where the credit cards were used and recently purchased merchandise such as $1,400 in gift cards.
Hart said Johnson admitted to the deed and “sat down and wrote a letter of apology” before being arrested.
To those who contend the Sheriff’s Office has a “catch and release” policy, Hart said he had talked with District Attorney Jeff Rosell and gotten assurances that he’ll be filing the appropriate charges.
Arraignment will likely be Friday or Monday, Hart said.
The suspect was caught on camera in a store where he used a credit card.
He said his team is following up on a second man who may have been involved.
The sheriff said he had received phone calls and emails from people across the country wanting to help the firefighter, one of 1,682 here battling a blaze over steep and difficult terrain in Bonny Doon, Boulder Creek and Ben Lomond.
“A lot of people offered to pay the whole bill,” Hart said, but he noted the firefighter shared that he had been whole by his credit card company and he just wants to get back to his job of fighting the fire.
“It’s not how much money,” Hart said. “What matters is a person came to help us. This is not right. I’m going to advocate this guy be held accountable.”
Asked about the theft of personal protective equipment from another visiting firefighter, Hart said that case has been assigned to the city of Santa Cruz Police Department.