Suspects in 2002 Homicide Located, in Custody

At about 6:30 p.m. on February 24, 2002, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a shots-fired call in the 1500 block of Crest Road. Initial investigation determined that a homicide had occurred at 1527-15 Crest Rd, and the body of the 27-year-old victim, Martin Herrera Sotelo, was located a short time later in a nearby dumpster.

The follow-up homicide investigation of the incident determined that three suspects had been involved in the crime, and warrants were obtained charging each of them murder. The three suspects were identified as:

•  Noel Monterrubio Garcia (DOB 10/22/69)
• Orlando Monterrubio Garcia (DOB 5/20/75); and,
• Tomas Serrano Garcia (DOB 9/22/70).

Efforts were made immediately to locate and arrest the three suspects; however, those efforts were not successful, and detectives received information that all three had likely fled the area.

In 2003, it was learned that Orlando Monterrubio Garcia had returned to Raleigh, and he was located and arrested.

On May 8, 2012, the detective to whom the Martin Herrera Sotelo homicide case is currently assigned received information that Tomas Serrano Garcia had been arrested in Forsyth County, Ga., and RPD detectives traveled there to follow up on the Raleigh homicide investigation.

While in Georgia the detectives worked with investigators with the Forsyth County Sherriff’s Department to successfully to locate the third suspect, Noel Monterrubio Garcia, and he was taken into custody there.

Noel Monterrubio Garcia arrived in Raleigh this afternoon and has been processed into the Wake County Jail. Tomas Serrano Garcia remains in custody in Georgia pending extradition.

Raleigh Police Investigate Homicide

Shortly after 10 p.m. last night, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a shooting call at the intersection of Hill and Jones streets. A victim, Winzo Omari Gill, 23, was transported to WakeMed, where he later died. The incident remains under investigation, and no arrests have been made.

Anyone with information that might assist the homicide detectives who are handling the case should call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for tips that help solves cases.

Raleigh Police Trying to Identify Robbery Suspect

Shortly after 8 p.m. on May 16, Raleigh Police Department officers responded to a robbery call at a Subway restaurant at 1705 Lake Wheeler Rd.

The suspect in the case is seen in the attached surveillance photos. He is described as black male with a thin build who stands approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall. The suspect, who may be in his 20s, was wearing a dark colored shirt, light-colored shorts and a mask that may have been fashioned from an article of clothing.

The suspect is believed to have fled the scene in a grayish or light blue four-door sedan. The vehicle may have been a Hyundai.

Anyone with information that might help detectives identify or locate the suspect is asked to call Raleigh CrimeStoppers at (919) 834-HELP. CrimeStoppers pays cash rewards for anonymous tips that help solve cases.

Citizens Invited to Drop Off Expired or Unneeded Medications at Grocery Store Locations

Anyone with unneeded or expired medications can drop them off for safe disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, outside four Raleigh grocery stores. The City of Raleigh Substance Abuse Advisory Commission, Police Department and Community Services Department are sponsoring the free drop-off event to help prevent the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs.

The event will take place outside these grocery stores:

• Kroger at 1610 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.;
• Food Lion at 4510 Capital Blvd. at Mini City shopping center;
• Food Lion at 5633 Creedmoor Road at the intersection with Millbrook Road; and,
• Food Lion at 2420 Wycliff Road at the intersection with Lake Boone Trail.

Many people who abuse prescription drugs get them from unsuspecting family and friends. The drop-off event will help keep drugs away from those who might abuse them. It also offers a safe alternative to flushing unneeded or expired medication, which could taint water supplies.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be accepted. Markers will be available to black out personal information on prescription labels. No questions will be asked of those dropping off medication.

The City of Raleigh Substance Abuse Advisory Commission advocates for the prevention and treatment of alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse. Its members are volunteers appointed by the Raleigh City Council.

RPD Adds New Crime Category to Online Reporting System

Last summer, the Raleigh Police Department introduced its new crime reporting system, which allowed people to file six non-emergency police reports online. Eligible online reports included: damages to property; damages to vehicles; harassing phone calls; lost property; stolen property; and thefts from vehicles. Recently, they added the ability to report a hit and run online as well.The online reporting service enables members of the community to complete a form to report non-emergency crimes. Users navigate to the City of Raleigh home page at www.raleighnc.gov, select “Police Department” from the list of departments and then scroll down to click on the “Report a Crime” link. Users then answer a short series of questions to determine if the crime they wish to report can be accepted through the online reporting service.

Online reporting users are able to print a temporary copy of their report immediately after it is submitted. Online submissions are reviewed by the department before a permanent report number is issued.

The online reporting system provides a convenient way to report crimes that does not require the presence of an officer, and it increases police productivity by freeing officers to perform other law enforcement activities. In addition, users may find it is a more convenient way to file a police report needed for an insurance claim.