Man jailed for stealing plants from outside Bayamón shopping mall

By The Star Staff

A man was booked into prison after being charged with aggravated unlawful appropriation and aggravated damage for uprooting ornamental plants in the parking lot of the Cantón Mall in Bayamón.

According to preliminary information, the defendant was identified as Gerald Santiago Guzmán, 57, a resident of Bayamón. Police allege that the man used his bare hands to dig up several plants classified as agave and alternanthera, causing damage to the grounds, and stealing them.

The stolen property, including planting and maintenance costs, was valued at around $2,618.

Officer Isaías Rivera, under the supervision of Sgt. Jackeline Acevedo of the Bayamón Criminal Investigation Unit (CIC), consulted the case with Prosecutor Glorinés González, who ordered the filing of charges for the aforementioned crimes.

The defendant was captured on security cameras committing the crimes and subsequently arrested by Municipal Police Officer Ricardo López. The case was presented to Judge Catherine Brunelle, who determined cause for arrest and set bail at $16,000. When he failed to post bail, Santiago Guzmán was booked into the Bayamón Regional Jail.

The preliminary hearing was scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Bayamón Court.