On September 16, 2018 at 11:13 a.m., Officer Lyle Kelley was patrolling in the 800 block of West Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos. Officer Kelley observed a spray painted black 1995 Honda Accord traveling in front of him with no muffler. As officer Kelley pulled behind the vehicle, the driver abruptly pulled into the parking lot of a local business and got out of the vehicle. Officer Kelley contacted the driver, Robert Ray Burgess, 24 of Modesto.

Officer Kelley ran the license plate and determined the license plates on the vehicle did not match the vehicle. After further investigation, the vehicle was determined to be stolen. Burgess had his two small children, ages 4 and 5 inside the vehicle with him at the time of his arrest. Hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia were located inside the vehicle in reach of the two small boys, who were not restrained in-car seats.

Burgess was arrested on charges of vehicle theft, child endangerment, possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia, and out of county arrest warrants. Burgess remains in custody at the John Latoracca Correctional Center in lieu of $65,000 bail. The children were placed in the care of Child Protective Services.