Location: Avenue 208 and Road 196 in Lindsay/ Avenue 208 and Road 196 in Lindsay

Incident Date: 9/26/19

Case Number: 19-12172 and 19-12174

City: Lindsay

Posted by: Dispatch/ Media Relations

One Behind Bars, One Still on the Loose for Double Carjackings in Lindsay

On 9-26-19 around 5:45 a.m., TCSO Deputies were called to the area of Avenue 208 and Road 196 in Lindsay for a carjacking.  When they arrived, Deputies contacted a victim who said two men pulled up to his car with their lights on, which partially blinded his view. The victim said one of the men then pulled out a gun and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t cooperate.  A second suspect then got into his truck, which was a Ford F-150, and sat in the passenger’s seat, armed with a handgun. The victim was forced out of his truck, at which time the suspect in the passenger’s seat slid across, and drove away from the scene followed by the first suspect who was seen driving away in a white truck.   

Around 7 a.m., Deputies were were called to a second carjacking in the area of Avenue 208 and Road 196 in Lindsay. There, they contacted another victim, who said he had been confronted by two men, armed with AR-15 Style rifles.  He said one of the suspects held a gun to him and threatened to shoot him if he didn’t cooperate.  A second suspect then took keys from his pocket and drove off in the victim’s truck, described as a Chevy Colorado. 

The suspect, who initially contacted the victim also drove off, again, in a vehicle that was described as a white pickup truck.  According to the victim, as the suspect was leaving the area, he heard several gunshots being fired. Fortunately, he was not hurt. Based on the proximity and time frame, Deputies believe both crimes were committed by the same men.      

Both stolen vehicles were later found and Detectives were able to connect a home in the 800 block of S. Mirage Street to one of the stolen vehicles. A search warrant was conducted and Detectives arrested 29-year-old Fernando Ibarra Rodriguez of Lindsay, who was found hiding in a car. He was linked to both crimes based on physical evidence and stolen property belonging to both victims was found on him. 

The weapons used in this case are still outstanding. And Detectives are still trying to identity the second suspect.  Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Javier Guerrero or Sergeant Larry Camacho at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at 1-800-808-0488 or anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.