Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested and booked Enrique Garza, 54, of Sanger into the Fresno County Jail.
He faces felony charges of burglary and probation violation. He also faces a misdemeanor charge for drug possession. Garza is currently under Post-Release Community Supervision, which is part of AB109.
Around 6:30 pm Thursday, Fresno County Sheriff’s Office dispatchers received a 911 phone call from a homeowner living on 2300 block of S. Lewis Lane in Sanger. The homeowner said he caught a man who had broken into his home and he was holding the suspect at gunpoint. Three minutes after the call came in, the Sheriff’s Office helicopter EAGLE One, arrived on scene. A few minutes later, patrol deputies arrived and took the suspect, Enrique Garza, into custody without incident.
On Thursday, the homeowner was doing some yard work on his property. After wrapping up in the evening, he tried to go inside his house using the front door. He found the security door to be locked, which he remembers did not do. He also heard his dogs barking inside the house. He thought something might be wrong, so he cautiously went to a window he left open and as he pushed back the blinds. He heard a noise and then saw the suspect Garza standing in the house. The homeowner drew his CCW registered handgun from his pocket and pointed it at Garza, ordering him to keep his hands up and step outside. Garza complied and when he walked out the door, the homeowner told him to sit on the ground. The homeowner held him at gunpoint until deputies arrived. It was later determined that Garza had hopped over a back fence and got into the home. He was attempting to steal items when the homeowner interrupted him.
The homeowner is a 70 year old man who has had a Carry a Concealed Weapons (CCW) permit for 50 years, which was issued through the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. This was the first time he had ever had to draw his gun on someone.
