On September 18, 2012, The Kerrville Police Department arrested Shawn Walden, Luis Lopez, Anthony Mortimer, Bruno Pina, and a 16 year old male juvenile on felony Possession of Marijuana charges.
The Kerrville Police Department Field Operations and Criminal Investigations Units began their investigation after KPD received a call from Don Young with Young’s Jewelry & Guns, for suspicious circumstances that had just occurred at his store located in the 2000 block of Sidney Baker on September 18th at around 1:00 p.m.
Mr. Young reported that a male subject came into the store with 43 Olympic Gold coins and wanted to sell them for a total of $21,500. Mr. Young issued a check to the male subject for the amount requested and took possession of the coins. Mr. Young thought it was suspicious and immediately called the Kerrville Police Department to make sure the coins were not stolen.
It was reported that the male subject left the store driving a gray 2012 Dodge Challenger, 2 doors, with temporary dealer tags, occupied with approximately (4) other individuals and may have been headed to the bank to cash the check.
KPD Officers and Investigators, located and detained (5) male subjects in the gray 2012 Dodge Challenger found in the parking lot of the Guadalupe National Bank located in the 1300 block of Bandera Hwy, shortly after receiving the call from Mr. Young. During the investigation and interviews of Shawn Walden, 17 years old, Luis Lopez, 21 years old, Anthony Mortimer, 25 years old, Bruno Pina, 19 years old, and minor juvenile, 16 years old, officers found the 16 year old juvenile to be in possession of approximately two (2) ounces of marijuana. A search of the vehicle also resulted in the seizure of approximately seven (7) ounces of marijuana and drug paraphernalia including a weighing scale.
At the conclusion of this investigation, all (5) individuals were arrested for Possession of Marijuana, more than 4 ounces, less than 5 pounds, a State Jail Felony. Pina was also arrested for an active warrant out of Gillespie County, for Bail Jumping and Fail to Appear.
Walden, Lopez, Mortimer, and Pina were taken to the Kerr County Jail. The 16 year old juvenile was taken to the Kerr County Juvenile Detention. Walden, Lopez, and Mortimer’s bonds were set at a total of $75,000.00 each. Pina’s bonds totaled $76,500.00, to include the outstanding warrant. The 16 year old juvenile faces criminal penalties in a Kerr County Juvenile Court. The charges were filed with the 216th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The 2012 Dodge Challenger was seized pursuant to State law.
Police Captain Jeffrey L. Wendling stated “we appreciate Mr. Young’s actions by notifying the Police Department as soon as possible concerning the gold coins. The Police Department was able to quickly locate the Dodge vehicle and begin an investigation into possible criminal activity. The combined efforts of our Patrol and Investigative personnel resulted in these arrests and recovery of possible stolen property of great value, plus the marijuana and drug paraphernalia. ”
As a result of this investigation, the Police Department discovered numerous other items of property in the vehicle believed to be stolen from the Fredericksburg, Gillespie County area. The found property included jewels along with silver and gold coins. The forty-three (43) gold coins were recovered from Mr. Young after one of the suspects admitted he had stolen them from a family member. Additional Olympic gold coins and an assortment of jewelry were recovered from the vehicle. The Kerrville Police Department is working closely with the Fredericksburg Police Department in this investigation.