By Shari Kaplan
What began as a routine traffic stop ended with the arrest of Los Gatan Robert Harwood, who now stands accused of burglarizing several area homes.
Los Gatos police arrested Harwood Aug. 12 on burglary and other charges, after he was pulled over for a vehicle code violation.
At an Aug. 14 arraignment, the district attorney's office charged Harwood, 18, with two counts of residential burglary, one count of residential trespassing, one count of possession for sale of a controlled substance (psilocybin mushrooms) and one count of transporting a controlled substance.
At press time, police were awaiting information on blood tests taken the day of Harwood's arrest, to determine whether Harwood was driving under the influence. His next court date has not yet been set.
According to police, three Los Gatos homes were burglarized July 27 between the hours of midnight and 4 a.m., and one of the victims observed someone leaving the scene. The victim provided police with a description of the getaway car and a partial license plate number.
At approximately 3 a.m. on Aug. 12, Officer J.R. Langer saw a car driving along Los Gatos Boulevard that fit the description provided by the burglary victim. Noting that the car had a broken headlight and shattered windshield, Langer pulled the driver over.
Langer reported finding more than three ounces of psilocybin in Harwood's possession and some stolen items in the car. Further investigation led to the recovery of various items, including wine, a purse, a wallet, a cellular phone and other electronics items, police said.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, August 21, 1996.
©1996 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved