Location: 57100 block of Tamarack Drive, Ponderosa

Incident Date: 6-18-18

Incident Time: 2353 hour

Case Number: 18-08063

City: Ponderosa

Posted by: Media Relations

In late April of 2018, the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation into numerous burglaries occurring in the Ponderosa and Camp Nelson area. Property Detectives along with the Forensic Investigation Unit began processing physical evidence attempting to identify a suspect. During the next several months, a total of 16 burglaries occurred in the area.

As the investigation continued, the Sheriff’s Department received a call on June 18, 2018 at 2353 hours in regards a suspicious vehicle around a vacant house in 57100 block of Tamarack, in Ponderosa. As Deputies arrived on scene, they located the suspicious vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the area of Cedar Slope.  Deputies contacted the driver, who was identified as Lyle Floyd Martin (34 years of age) of Visalia. During the traffic stop, a female passenger in the vehicle jumped into the driver’s seat and sped away. She was identified as Saira Howell (35 years of age,) also out of Visalia.  Due to her reckless driving, deputies discontinued the pursuit near Springville.

On June 19, 2018 at 0913 hours, Detectives from the Property Crimes Unit were able to track down Saira Howell at an address located in the 1800 Block of N. Tipton Street, in Visalia. Howell was detained without incident. Detectives obtained and executed a search warrant for the location and two other homes located in the City of Exeter and Camp Nelson.

The investigation was culminated by the arrest of both Martin & Howell who were believed to be tied to all (16) residential burglaries within the Mountain Communities of Camp Nelson, Alpine Village, Sequoia Crest, Ponderosa and Cedar Slope.  Detectives were able to recover a large amount of stolen property connected to the burglaries.  An effort to identify additional victims will be made with the intent to return the recovered property to its rightful owners as soon as possible. 

Both suspects were later transported and booked at the Pre-trial Facility charged with burglary and possession of stolen property.  In addition, Howell was charged with evading peace officers during a traffic stop. 

Anyone with more information regarding this case is urged to contact the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department via telephone at #1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at #559-725-4194.