A teddy bear allegedly stolen from an ice cream store led to serious criminal charges for a Twentynine Palms man.
On Saturday (April 26) at around 3:45 p.m., San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the reported theft at a business in Twentynine Palms. Employees at the Cold Stone Creamery at the intersection of Twentynine Palms Highway and Adobe Road told deputies that a large stuffed teddy bear that serves as the store’s mascot was taken from the lobby.
Staff told deputies that they followed the suspect out of the store, and the staff was able to recover the teddy bear before they contacted deputies.
The suspect was identified as Joey Baca, a 49 year-old resident of Twentynine Palms.
Baca has an active warrant for investigation into possession of a controlled substance and was located by deputies and taken into custody.
The teddy bear was uninjured.
Joey Baca was arrested on suspicion of petty theft with two convictions and possession of a controlled substance and is being held at the West Valley Detention Center on $31,000 bail.
