Alleged church burglar’s ‘selfie’ leads to his arrest, two others
A “selfie” found in a cell phone dropped during the ransack burglary of a Chula Vista church has led to the arrest of the man in the picture and two other suspects, police said.
The phone was found at the scene of the break-in at Hilltop Tabernacle Church in which cash, a laptop computer and other items were taken, Chula Vista police said.
Police recognized the area shown in the picture as Harborside Park. People at the park recognized the man in the picture.
Police then contacted the man -- Adam Howe, 26 -- who admitted to burglarizing the church and a nearby recreational vehicle, officials said. He was arrested Tuesday.
Howe’s arrest led to two other persons suspected in the case -- Victoria Corey, 19, and Mario Nava, 27. Both were arrested on suspicion of possessing stolen property, police said.
Howe, meanwhile, remains in county jail on two counts of burglary, his selfie replaced by a mugshot.
tony.perry@latimes.com
Twitter: @LATsandiego
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