Burglary of Round Valley Feed Store Results in Stolen Guns, High Speed Pursuit, and Arrests, says MCSO

On 11-24-2020 at 3:41 AM, the Mendocino County Sheriff Office was alerted to a reported burglary at M&M Feed & Supply (a general feed and hardware store) in Covelo, California.

When Deputies arrived and met with employees, it was determined that an unknown individual, or individuals, had forced entry into the building after disabling the alarm system.

Items taken from the business included one shotgun, two high powered hunting rifles, and five small caliber rifles, as well as miscellaneous ammunition.

Deputies began an investigation and collected evidence at the scene.

On 11-25-2020 at 10:30 PM (following night), Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded back to M&M Feed & Supply for a reported burglary alarm wherein the alarm company was reporting the power being cut to the alarm.

As Deputies arrived in the area, they observed a pickup fleeing the vicinity at a high rate of speed.

Based on the remote location of the business, and the recent calls for service, Deputies were suspicious of the vehicle fleeing upon their arrival.   Deputies attempted to make an investigative stop on the vehicle and the driver fled at a high rate of speed.

The driver attempted to evade the Deputies for approximately 5 minutes until his vehicle became disabled while trying to navigate a creek crossing on Dobie Lane.

The driver fled on foot and tried to hide in some brush. A Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Handler was one of the pursuing Deputies and provided a loud announcement that he would deploy his K9 partner “Bo”, if the driver did not surrender.

Fearing deployment of K9 Bo, the driver, subsequently identified as Eduardo Sifuentes Gonzalez, peacefully surrendered to Deputies. 

Two of the firearms stolen from the 11-24-2020 burglary at M&M Feed & Supply were recovered from Gonzalez’ vehicle.

The investigation continued and Deputies responded to the residence of Wendy Sue Joaquin on Tabor Lane in Covelo.

Joaquin was subsequently found to be in possession of two additional firearms stolen from M&M Feed & Supply during the 11-24-2020 burglary.

Joaquin who was on probation and is a convicted felon was arrested and transported to the Mendocino County Jail for possession of stolen property, being a felon in possession of firearms, and violation of probation.

Joaquin was to be held in lieu of $100,000.00 bail which had to be specially requested by a Deputy and granted by a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge due to the current COVID-19 emergency zero bail schedule.

Eduardo Sifuentes Gonzalez was booked into the Mendocino County Jail for two counts of burglary, two counts of Looting (Burglary during declared emergency due to Pandemic); evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety and resisting arrest where he was to be held in lieu of $15,000.00 bail. 

This investigation is ongoing and several of the stolen firearms are yet to be recovered.

Anybody with knowledge of the current whereabouts of the stolen firearms are urged to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office by calling the Tip-line at 707-234-2100 or the WeTip anonymous crime reporting hotline at 800-782-7463.