Police arrest 2 in overnight break-in at beauty school

Lawrence Beauty School gave a brief lesson on crime and punishment early Wednesday morning when two young men were found allegedly stealing electronics in the building. Hanford Police officers arrived at the scene approximately 2 a.m. after a neighbor called in a report of hearing glass shatter at the nearby school on Myrtle Street and 10th Avenue. When officers arrived, they found a window on the northern side of the building busted open and two suspects inside.

A perimeter was quickly set up around the building by three officers, who found an 18-year-old man and a juvenile inside.

Upon contact with the officers, the older suspect immediately fled out of the window, according to reports, and was chased across 10th Avenue by Officer Steve Schmitz. Following close behind the suspect, Schmitz reportedly yelled "Taser," causing the fleeing suspect to dive to the ground and give up without a fight.

The man, Luis Velasco of Hanford, was arrested on the scene as well as the 16-year-old juvenile, who surrendered to officers without incident.

Velasco was booked into the Kings County Jail on suspicion of burglary, while the juvenile was sent to the Kings County Juvenile Center on suspicion of the same crime.

All of the property taken from the scene was recovered during the arrests.

The reporter can be reached at 583-2425.

(Aug. 14, 2008)