YCSO releases names of suspects in church burglary

The identities of the two men who allegedly broke into a church, vandalized it and fled with electronics have been released by the Yuma County Sheriff's Office.

The two Yuma residents, 18-year-old Mario Gill and 19-year-old Jose Rivera, were arrested Thursday. A third person was also arrested, but has not been identified because the individual is a juvenile.

All three were booked into either the Yuma County Detention Facility or the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center on charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, possession of burglary tools, aggravated criminal damage and theft.

The incident happened at about 4 a.m. Thursday at Valley Baptist Church, 3830 W. 8th St. At that time, Border Patrol agents saw two people carrying electronics and full backpacks at the intersection of El Prado Road and 8th Street, just to the east of the church.

The agents followed the two from a distance until the pair ran into a nearby yard and attempted to hide. Agents confronted the duo and detained them until sheriff's deputies responded.

Deputies found the church's back door had been pried open, and numerous electronic items were missing, damaged or thrown about the property.

Most of the stolen items were recovered and returned to the church. Altogether, YCSO estimated the loss or damage to the church was about $100,000.