On the morning of September 11, 2003, at approximately 2:52 A.M. Ofc. Terry Bolden, of the Menlo Park Police Department, located a smashed glass door to the front of Baneth’s Pharmacy, at 900 Willow Rd. Baneth’s Pharmacy has been burglarized several times in a similar manner this summer. As Ofc. Bolden went to investigate further, he found a man, later identified as Melvin Williams (DOB: 12-02-59) of East Palo Alto, trying to exit the store through the broken glass door with a bag of stolen property.

Upon being confronted by police, the suspect fled back into the store. Officers from the Palo Alto Police Department and the Veterans Administration Federal Police Department responded to assist MPPD. Once a tight perimeter of officers was established around the store, a team of MPPD officers made entry into the store. Once inside, the entry team located, and arrested the suspect.

The suspect was booked into the San Mateo County Jail, and charged with PC 460(b)-commercial burglary, PC 594(b)(3)-vandalism, PC 148(a)(1)-resisting arrest, and H&S 11364-possession of narcotics paraphernalia. He was also booked on a no bail PC 3056 -parolee at large warrant.

Anyone with information on this case, or any of the prior burglaries at Baneth’s Pharmacy this summer, is asked to call the MPPD Investigations Unit, at (650) 330-6300.