Man Exits Courthouse, Steals Bicycle, Goes to Jail
Breaking the law is presumably contagious for 45-year-old Hector Pineda. Promptly after appearing in El Monte Superior Court on Wednesday for an opened alcohol container violation, he attempted to steal a bicycle.
A County mail deliveryman witnessed Pineda destroying a wrought iron fence near the courthouse's entrance in an attempt to free and steal a locked bicycle.
The deliveryman reported the incident immediately, and a security officer found Pineda walking his new set of wheels down an exit ramp.
Pineda claimed ownership of the bike and explained that he forgot his keys for the padlock. His fabrication may have been believable; however, a Covina resident arrived at the courthouse shortly after the attempted theft and identified his bike.
Appropriately, Pineda, an unemployed welder, asked sheriff's personnel if he could bid on the repair job to fix the fence.
Pineda was booked at the El Monte Police Station on Wednesday, July 20, for felony vandalism and petty theft.
