Thursday, November 21, 2024

Suspected Wallet Thief and Drug Deal Arrested by Ukiah Police

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The following is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:


On 07/15/2024 at approximately 11:35 am, Ukiah Police Department (UPD) Officers spoke with a victim who advised he believed he lost his wallet in the 1100 Block of Airport Park Blvd on 07/14/2024. The victim advised there were fraudulent charges to his account. UPD Officers checked video surveillance at a gas station where the charges occurred. Utilizing the time stamps of the fraudulent bank charges, UPD Officers were able  to identify a female subject who used the card at the gas station cash register. The subject was identified as  Jennifer Pifer. Pifer got into a vehicle and left the location. Utilizing the FLOCK camera system UPD officers were able to obtain the vehicle’s license plate. 

The suspect vehicle was later located in the 500 block of South Orchard Avenue. The vehicle was driven by  Pifer and there were two other passengers in the vehicle which included Janine Ponciano. The stolen wallet and debit cards were in Pifer’s possession. UPD Officers conducted their investigation and Pifer was eventually arrested for violations of 496(a) PC, 530.5(a) PC, and 484g PC. 

Ponciano was determined to have a local Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office warrant for her arrest. Ponciano was placed under arrest and determined to be in possession of drugs with the intent to sell. Ponciano was also in possession of a stun gun/taser. A records check was conducted and Ponciano was determined to have been convicted of multiple felony charges of 487(a) PC (grand theft) and was not allowed to possess a stun gun/taser.  

During the course of the investigation, UPD officers also determined Ponciano had rented a hotel room in the Ukiah area. The Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force (MMCTF) was contacted and advised of the investigation due to the amount of drugs Ponciano was in possession of. MMCTF authored a search warrant for the hotel room that belonged to Ponciano.  

An assortment of drugs confiscated by UPD [Image from UPD]

UPD Officers assisted MMCTF agents with serving the search warrant. A large quantity of drugs was located that were packaged for sales. (see attached photograph). Ponciano was charged with 11351 H&S, 11352 H&S,  22610 PC, 11364(a) H&S, and 11377(a) H&S. Ponciano and Pifer were booked and lodged at the Mendocino  County Jail.  

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The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force for their assistance with this investigation.  

As always, our mission at UPD is to make Ukiah as safe a place as possible. If you would like to know more  about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for telephone, cell phone, and email notifications by  clicking the Nixle button on our website; www.ukiahpolice.com

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MendoFever Staff
MendoFever Staff
Editor's Note: Whenever an article's byline reads "MendoFever Staff", the contents of that article were not composed by any of our reporters. Types of writing that will be attributed to "MendoFever Staff" include press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, obituaries— essentially writing that is not produced by a reporter.

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