Police have arrested three Sonoma State University (SSU) students for burglarizing about 24 unoccupied residence hall rooms in late October as the Kincade wildfire raged near the campus.
The suspects are Daryl Livington Reems, Jose Ricardo Rubio and Lamont Bryan Paxton, reports the Press Democrat. All three are 18 years of age.
At the time of the alleged break-ins, the SSU campus had been evacuated due to the fire, power shut offs and large-scale evacuations. The campus was closed Oct. 26-Nov. 2, reports NBC Bay Area. Most of the incidents happened at Sauvignon Village, but four happened in three freshman residence halls.
Because the campus was closed and no one was allowed near the dorms during the wildfire, Reems, Rubio and Paxton were arrested Oct. 29 as they were driving away from campus. The officer who stopped them found stolen property in the vehicle they were driving.
The suspects were arrested for possession of stolen property and then booked at the local jail. They have been released on bail. SSU has also suspended Reems, Rubio and Paxton.
Some of the stolen items have been recovered and will soon be returned to students. Victims were encouraged to contact campus police.
The incidents are still being investigated by authorities.
