Location: 5100 Block Road 144

Incident Date: 2-28-14

Incident Time: 1705

Case Number: 14-02618

Victim: Zaninovich Farms

City: Earlimart

Posted by: Media Relations

On 2-28-14 at 1705 hours Deputies responded to a theft in progress.  While responding to the call Deputies were advised the suspect was fleeing the area on a tractor, which was taken from the crime scene.  Within minutes Deputies were told the suspect was being detained by employees in a grove near the intersection of Road 144 and Avenue 48 in Earlimart.  Upon arrival Deputies immediately identified the suspect as a wanted fugitive named Arnulfo Galaviz Montano (24 years of age). 

Deputies contacted the Reporting Party who said a second suspect fled the crime scene in a skip loader (Bobcat).  Based on this information, Deputies quickly searched the area and found the skip loader several miles from the scene.  Deputies then contacted a subject named Chrisoforo Ontiveros (33 years of age) at a nearby residence.  He was found to be the person driving the skip loader.  A search revealed Ontiveros was in possession of a concealed machete, and a small amount of methamphetamine.  Montano and Ontiveros were transported to the violent crimes office pending further investigation.  Later, they were both booked into custody at Main Jail in Visalia.

A recovery of $55,300 was made in this case, which remains under investigation by TCSO.

The case remains under investigation by TCSO.